Ahern defends remarks on role of Catholic Church

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, has defended his recent comments supporting the role of the Catholic Church in Irish education.

Speaking to reporters in Dublin this morning, Mr Ahern said he was "intentionally misinterpreted" by those who judged his remarks to be ill-timed in the light of the Ferns Report on clerical child sex abuse.

The Taoiseach repeated today that he supports the good work done by the church and said not everyone could be tarred with the same brush.

He was speaking ahead of a meeting with One In Four, the support group for victims of child abuse that criticised his initial remarks last week.