TAOISEACH Enda Kenny has said his criticisms of the Vatican “still stand”, and he rejected the Holy See’s assertion that he made an “unfounded” allegation against it in relation to co-operation with the inquiry.
In his speech in the Dáil in July, Mr Kenny had accused the Vatican of downplaying the “rape and torture of children” and of obstructing the Cloyne inquiry.
Mr Kenny said yesterday that three requests made by the Murphy commission to the Vatican for information in 2006, 2007 and 2009 were rejected.
“I made the point that this is a statutory commission of inquiry and as such nothing less than full co-operation is required, and anything less than full co-operation in my view is unwarranted interference,” he said.
“I want to see that the church of which I am a member is absolutely above reproach in the issue of this and other areas,” said Mr Kenny. “And for that reason, my claim in the Dáil still stands.”
The Government is still considering its response to the weekend statement from the Vatican and it is expected to be discussed by the Cabinet tomorrow. Government sources said all relevant departments were engaged in formulating the response, which will be sent to the Vatican by Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore.