WARNINGS NOT to seek “a head on a plate” by calling for bishops to resign over criticisms in the Murphy report, is “another way of asking for an exemption from accountability”, Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan has said.

Mr Flanagan told the Dáil that “since the publication of the Murphy report, we have heard apologies from senior clergy in Ireland”, but little action.

Speaking during the debate on the report of the commission of investigation into the Dublin archdiocese’s handling of clerical abuse allegations, he said it was “abundantly clear that many politicians and senior public servants continue to have blind obedience to the Catholic Church with their fidelity to the State coming a poor second. What is also clear is the contempt in which the church holds secular State authorities” in citing diplomatic protocol for ignoring a State-appointed commission. Mr Flanagan said “there is little proof that the Catholic Church truly believes civil law is superior to canon law and while senior figures such as politicians and public servants continue to be members of secret Catholic organisations, the State will always come second best and civil law will always be undermined. What is the legacy of putting Vatican interests ahead of the interests of the people of Ireland? We know it is abuse and oppression.”

But he said that “where bishops and priests are church patrons of hospitals and schools, and are members of their boards, they should be subject to civil consequences for their actions”. In theory Irish State laws “are superior to canon law and the wishes of the senior clergy, but we must ensure at all times that they are also superior in practice”.

Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern said a special contact line set up by the Garda after the Ryan report was published “has resulted in about 60 cases being actively investigated. Many of those cases will result in files being forwarded to the Director of Public Prosecutions”.

He appealed for abuse survivors to come forward, citing the special telephone number (01) 666 3066.

He added however that “it would be a disservice to the victims to pretend that pursuing criminal liability in regard to the handling of the cases of abuse is straightforward. At times, some actions are profoundly morally wrong but not of themselves criminal acts. The law as it stands – particularly the offence of endangerment in the Criminal Justice Act 2006 – is stronger than it used to be but cannot be applied retrospectively.” He also said he had asked the Garda Inspectorate to review arrangements for Garda handling of complaints of sexual abuse against children.

Sinn Féin justice spokesman Aengus Ó Snodaigh said the “woefully inadequate state of our child protection services has been repeatedly exposed”.