1. The Minister for External Affairs proposes to raise our mission to the Holy See to the status of an Embassy. The step is in a sense overdue in view of the facts that the Nuncio Apostolic here has ambassadorial rank and that Ireland is the only important Catholic country not represented at the Holy See by an Ambassador. The Minister proposes to promote Mr. J.P. Walshe, Secretary of the Department, to be the first Ambassador. Mr. Walshe has special experience and knowledge of Vatican affairs and has on several occasions been to Rome on special missions.
2. In accordance with the intention which he has declared several times to the Dáil, the Minister proposes also to arrange as soon as possible an exchange of Representatives with Australia. The large proportion of people of Irish stock in the Australian population and the growing importance of Australia in Commonwealth affairs make it specially desirable that we should have closer relations with that country. The Minister proposes to appoint Dr. T.J. Kiernan to be the first Irish Representative in Australia. The exact title of the Representative remains to be fixed.
3. The Minister regrets that the newspapers obtained foreknowledge of these proposals before he had had an opportunity of submitting them to the Government thereby necessitating an immediate official statement. He now requests the formal approval of the Government for the two appointments.
4. In accordance with Section 2(2) of the Ministers and Secretaries Act, 1924, the Minister recommends the Government to appoint Mr. F.H. Boland to succeed Mr. Walshe as Secretary of the Department of External Affairs. Mr. Boland has been Assistant Secretary of the Department since 1938. Prior to that he served as Principal Officer in the Trade and Industries Branch of the Department of Industry and Commerce and as Secretary of the Legation in Paris.
5. The Minister proposes to appoint Mr. L.T. McCauley, at present Consul-General in New York, to succeed Mr. Boland as Assistant Secretary of the Department.