Catholic primate Cardinal Seán Brady has this evening rejected calls for the Bishop of Cloyne John Magee to resign.
In an interview broadcast on RTÉ Television, Cardinal Brady described Bishop Magee as a "dependable and reliable" person who would do everything in his power to ensure that clerical sexual abuse did not happen in his diocese again.
Cardinal Brady's comments follow last week's decision by the Minister for Children Barry Andrews decision to refer the Catholic Diocese of Cloyne to a commission investigating clerical abuse in the Dublin archdiocese last week.
Speaking this evening, Cardinal Brady said he believed that Bishop Magee had learned painful lessons.
"I am aware of those calls for his (Bishop Magee's) resignation and I understand why people would make those calls because some people are very angry...however, on reflection I think he should not resign. He has begun to address these serious issues, he has published the report, and apologised. He has introduced changes which need to be continued to ensure and to keep safeguarding at the top of the list of priorities," said Cardinal Brady.
"I have known Bishop Magee for almost 50 years. I think he is dependable and reliable. I think he has learned a very painful lesson and I think that he will do everything in his power to make sure that this terrible thing does not happen again in his diocese," he added.
Cloyne, which covers most of rural Co Cork, has already been the subject of a separate report which criticised its handling of abuse allegations levelled against members of the clergy. The report was conducted by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSC), a body set up by, but independent of the Catholic Church.
Bishop Magee recently apologised to victims of clerical sex abuse after the report found his diocese had put children at risk of harm through an "inability" to respond appropriately to abuse allegations. The Bishop has faced a large number of calls for his resignation but has signalled his intention to remain.
Following last week's decision to refer the diocese of Cloyne to the commission investigating clerical abuse in the Dublin archdiocese, Bishop Magee, has pledged to co-operate fully with the inquiry.
The One in Four charity, which supports victims of sexual violence, said tonight that Cardinal Brady was
demonstrating a complete lack of understanding about the dynamics of sexual abuse and the appalling impact that it has on children.
"Bishop Magee misled the HSE by confirming he was in compliance with child protection procedures when he was not. It is only after public outcry that the Bishop has come to recognise his errors and to apologise for his actions," said One in Four executive director Maeve Lewis.
The organisation called again for Bishop Magee to resign this evening.