Minister of State Ms Liz O'Donnell has delivered an angry and unprecedented riposte to the Catholic Church for its attitude to the Taoiseach's partner, Ms Celia Larkin.
In remarks that strike a new tone in Church-State relations, the Progressive Democrat TD said it was "a bit rich" for the Catholic Church to be unhappy with Ms Larkin's co-hosting of a State reception for Cardinal Connell given its failure to deal with paedophile priests and institutional abuse.
She told The Irish Times: "I think they should remember their own issues on public morals before they start giving very vocal advice on the private lives of others."
Ms O'Donnell was joined by the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, and former Fianna Fail minister for foreign affairs Mr David Andrews yesterday in defence of the Taoiseach's and Ms Larkin's right to co-host the State ceremony at Dublin Castle on Monday night. The Tanaiste told The Irish Times: "I feel genuinely sorry for Celia Larkin. Very many others do too."
One of Fianna Fail's most senior figures, Mr Andrews said the Taoiseach had been "treated harshly" and Ms Larkin had been "treated cruelly" by the controversy. "She is not an elected representative, albeit the partner of the Taoiseach. She deserves better," he said, during a meeting of the Fianna Fail Parliamentary Party on the 75th anniversary of its establishment yesterday.
Clearly angry about the treatment of Ms Larkin at Dublin Castle on Monday, Ms O'Donnell, Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs, said thousands had left the "institutional" church because of its conservative attitudes.
"I think the church is just recovering from their share of scandals in the public, and not private areas of morality: paedophile priests, the abuse in institutions run by the Christian Brothers and residential homes."
The church's hierarchy transferred "paedophile priests within their own communities", she said. "I think they should remember their own issues on public morals before they start giving very vocal advice on the private lives of others."
However, she accepted some of the blame for the controversy could be laid at the door of the Government.
"I personally accept that it possibly could have been avoided by arrangements in the Taoiseach's Office. But why should the protocol be changed just because the cardinal was involved?"
Most practising Catholics today paid little attention to large tracts of the church's teaching on private morality, she said. "The church's position is well known. Most practising Catholics get on with their own lives and ignore these things."
Speaking shortly afterwards, Ms Harney said the controversy was "very disappointing". She added: "Nobody could be happy with what happened. It was supposed to be a night of celebration. I feel genuinely sorry for Celia Larkin. Very many others do too. She is the Taoiseach's partner. It is their private life. I accept that. If her name had not been on the invitation card that would have caused controversy as well."
Mr Andrews said those who criticised the relationship between Mr Ahern and Ms Larkin "might look into their own hearts". The ethos of Fianna Fail was certainly not reflected in the lack of compassion and the "cruel comment in some of the more fundamental remarks" that had been made.
"I said that didn't reflect the Republic that we as a political community would wish to live in, where you treat everybody equally with justice, fair-mindedness and equality," he said after the meeting.
Mr Andrews received a round of applause. Dublin North Central TD Mr Ivor Callely said later that there were "different views".