Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The meeting took place with the bishops and Cardinal Brady, Bishop Colm O'Reilly, Bishop John Buckley and Bishop Brendan Kelly all attended, as did Monsignor Gearóid Dullea, executive secretary of the Bishops' Conference, Fr. Drumm, the director of Catholic schools, Dr. Rooney from the Bishops' Council for Justice and Peace, Mr. Casey, the executive administrator of the Bishops' Conference, and Fr. Timothy Bartlett, assistant to the president of the Bishops' Conference. Mr. Martin Long, the director of the Catholic Communications Office, was also present for the latter part of the meeting.

I have already outlined what we discussed: Northern Ireland, the North-South Ministerial Council, the Finucane case and cross-Border cooperation between the Minister for Education and Skills and the Minister for Education in the Northern Ireland Executive in respect of educational matters. We discussed the matter of ACCORD, relationships and health. We also discussed the constitutional convention, safeguarding the welfare of children, and had a general debate on education. The questions of chaplains in prisons and hospitals and the A, B and C v. Ireland case were also discussed. Dr. Rooney mentioned in particular the increased incidence of suicide on the island of Ireland and its highlighting by a number of high profile cases at the time. The cardinal expressed his regret at the closure of Ireland's embassy to the Vatican. I indicated that the decision had been taken solely on grounds of cost and that I had noted his point.

The Magdalen laundries and Bethany Home were not raised at the meeting and were not discussed. The Magdalen laundries are now being dealt with by Mr. Justice Quirke and his report will be published in due course.

The question of the matter of the Bethany Home is one that the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, is following up.

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