"In an interview this morning on RTE Radio 1’s Morning Ireland, presenter Cathal Mac Coille interviewed Mr Sean O’Conaill of Voice of the Faithful Ireland. Specifically when discussing “a widespread culture of covering abuse”, Mr O’Conaill said: 'We have particular concerns about some dioceses still, particularly the Diocese of Raphoe…….'.

"The proposition that such concerns exist about the Diocese of Raphoe is unfounded. I am making this statement to assure the people of the diocese, particularly those who have suffered abuse, that we operate accountable and robust procedures to safeguard children in the Diocese of Raphoe. The diocese works constantly in partnership with the Health Service Executive, An Garda Síochána and the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland to safeguard children," he said.

Mr O’Conaill stated later the same day that they had no evidence that there was a problem in Raphoe at present.

"The Bishops statement on December 9 acknowledging that there had been a widespreadcover up referred to the period of the Murphy Inquiry and our comments related to Bishop Hegarty's period of office which I think was 1982 to 1994 before Bishop Boyce became Bishop of Raphoe, so the question is whether the widespread cover up that the Bishops have acknowledged applies to Raphoe in that period," he said.

Dr Boyce this week also attended a meeting in the Columba Centre, St Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where Bishops continued their discussion of December 9 and 10 last on the Commission of Investigation Report into the Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin by Judge Yvonne Murphy.

Since the publication of the Murphy report, bishops have been listening to the widespread and justifiable anger and frustration from survivors, priests and laity across their dioceses. Bishops recognise that, in the critical area of safeguarding children, people want accountability and transparency in terms of policy and procedures.

Diocesan bishops welcomed the invitation from the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI to meet them at the Holy See on February 15 and 16.