TAOISEACH BRIAN Cowen said it was not “unreasonable to assume the Holy See was open to responding to a further approach through diplomatic channels” from the Murphy commission investigating clerical child sex abuse in Dublin.

“Neither is it unreasonable to assume that when the papal nuncio received correspondence from the commission, in February 2007 and earlier this year, both the present and previous papal nuncios believed the matter was more properly addressed by the diplomatic note,” he added.

Mr Cowen said it was a matter of regret that the Holy See was not in a position to provide a substantive response to inquiries from the commission. But it was important to be clear as to how and why it had occurred, he added.

The Vatican’s view was that, as the commission had been established under the Government’s authority, through the Department of Justice, such a communication should be routed through diplomatic channels and in accordance with international customs.

Mr Cowen said it was not normal practice for a diplomatic mission to release papers to a body in its country of accreditation without an approach through the host government.

“It is regrettable that the failure to acknowledge either letter has given rise to the impression the Holy See was refusing to co-operate with the commission,” said Mr Cowen.

“The commission notes in its report that, as a body independent of the Government, it did not consider it appropriate to use diplomatic channels and that it was a matter for the commission itself.”

Mr Cowen said that the Holy See’s approach was consistent with international law according to which dealings between states should be conducted via the diplomatic channel, unless other arrangements were made by mutual consent.

He added: “The commission and the Holy See, it appears, acted in good faith in this matter, even if the best outcome was not achieved. It may be that an approach to the Holy See through appropriate diplomatic channels could assist in following up on the commission’s report. This is a matter that the Government can consider, if appropriate, in the context of its response to the report.”

The Taoiseach was replying to Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny who said it was discourteous that the papal nuncio did not respond to the two letters sent to him by the commission. The Vatican, through the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, responded to the Department of Foreign Affairs, indicating that the communication was not made through the proper channel, he added.

“How is it that, in respect of this sensitive issue concerning the destruction of the innocence and lives of vulnerable children, there was no response from the political end of the Department of Foreign Affairs to the response from the Vatican that contact had not been made through the correct channel?” Mr Kenny added.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said that the Taoiseach’s reply to Mr Kenny confirmed that senior figures in the Catholic Church had failed to grasp the urgency of what was at stake.

“Initially, parents and others who went to priests and bishops to say something was going on were blocked and frustrated,” said Mr Gilmore. “The tracks in the sand were being covered rather than investigated. The Taoiseach’s reply, on diplomatic movements made at different times, appears to confirm this is the approach taken in the Vatican also.”

Earlier, Mr Kenny asked the Taoiseach if he considered it appropriate that senior church people, who knowingly moved paedophile priests from parish to parish, should continue in their posts. Mr Cowen said it was for each individual concerned to decide that.