IRELAND
The Irish Times

DEAGLAN de BRÉADÚN, TOM SHIEL, MARTIN WALL and PAMELA DUNCAN

TÁNAISTE EAMON Gilmore said Government Ministers were not seeking to drive Cardinal Seán Brady out of office.

“It’s not the case,” he told reporters in Dublin yesterday. “There is a separation in this country between church and State. It is not the Government’s responsibility to decide who are bishops or who should remain as bishops, or archbishops or cardinals – that’s entirely a matter for the church.

“What is the Government’s business is to ensure that there is adequate protection provided for in this State for children.

“We have seen appalling episodes of the abuse and rape of children in this country by people who have responsibility over them, including clergy people and, in effect, a cover-up of that in many respects by church authorities.