The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, rejected claims by the leaders of the Catholic and Protestant churches that they were not adequately consulted over new laws to reform civil marriages, it has emerged.
The leaders of the Catholic, Church of Ireland, Presbyterian and Methodist congregations expressed "grave concern" to Mr Ahern after the Civil Registration Bill was signed into law in February, seven weeks before a consultation meeting with them.
Records released under the Freedom of Information Act show that when the meeting with officials took place in mid-April, the churches raised no difficulties with the Bill "and there was a general welcome for the provisions relating to marriage".
Mr Ahern later wrote back to each of the church leaders to say that there had been "full consultation" throughout the process of preparing the Bill, which reformed the system of registering marriages, births, stillbirths, adoptions and deaths.
"The principle of consultation in relation to matters of concern to the churches is fully recognised and will continue to be the basis of our continued good relations," said the Taoiseach.
He was responding on May 18th to a critical letter from the Catholic Primate, Archbishop Seán Brady; the Church of Ireland Primate, Archbishop Robert Eames; the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Dr Ivan McKay; and the President of the Methodist Church, the Rev W James Rea.
Each signed a letter on April 5th in which they complained that a meeting to discuss the recommendations of a committee on reform of the marriage law had been postponed until after the enactment of the Bill.
It said: "We write as leaders of the four main churches in Ireland to express our grave concern at the lack of consultation on the Civil Registration Bill 2003, signed into law on 27th February 2004." It continued that they had been assured that church representatives would be invited to a meeting in January to discuss the recommendations of an inter-Departmental Committee on reform of the marriage law.
"That meeting did not take place but is now scheduled for 16th April, subsequent to the signing of the Act."
The letter continued: "We do not consider this to be adequate consultation. Most citizens of Ireland would agree that the churches have a legitimate and specific interest in this matter and while events may have prompted the acceleration of the Bill through the Dáil, that should not have eliminated proper consultation.
"We ask you to ensure that in future there will be time for real consultation on issues which directly affect the churches."
Before Mr Ahern responded, he received letters from the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Ms Coughlan, and the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, saying that it had not been possible to proceed with the January meeting due to the early progression of the Bill through the Dáil.
Ms Coughlan and Mr Martin said in their letters that formal and informal contacts were maintained with the churches throughout the legislative process. They said no difficulties were raised at the meeting of April 16th, at which there was detailed discussion of the provisions on marriage in the Bill.
In his letters to the church leaders, Mr Ahern said that there had been ongoing briefings with church groups to discuss matters of concern. Contact with the churches was maintained around the time of the deferred meeting "and led to the resolution of certain outstanding issues", he said.
He added: "I understand that when the deferred meeting took place on April 16th, it was acknowledged by the representatives that there were no outstanding difficulties and, indeed, there was a general welcome for the provisions of the Act in relation to marriage."
