O'Keeffe: Bishops' roles in schools is 'minimal'

The Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe has refused to back calls for bishops named in the Murphy report to be removed as patrons of schools.

The Labour Party said the move would send a clear signal that the State will not tolerate what the Church covered up in the past.

But Mr O'Keefe has told the Dáil that the State wants to see any bishop who broke the law brought before the courts.

He is also insisting that the role of the patron in the management of the school is "minimal".