Taoiseach Enda Kenny says his criticisms of the Vatican “still stand” in the wake of the Cloyne inquiry into the sexual abuse of children.

Mr Kenny has also rejected the Vatican’s assertion that he made an “unfounded “ allegation against it in relation to co-operation with the inquiry.

“I want to see that the church of which I am a member is absolutely above reproach in the issue of this and other areas,” Mr Kenny said, speaking at a press briefing at the Fine Gael party conference in Galway today.

“And for that reason, my claim in the Dáil still stands. I made the point that this is a statutory commission of inquiry, and as such nothing less than full co-operation is required, and anything less than full co-operation in my view is unwarranted interference,” he said.

In his speech in the Dáil in July, Mr Kenny had accused the Vatican of dysfunction, disconnection and elitism and accused it of downplaying the “rape and torture of children”.

In its response over the weekend, the Vatican rejected Mr Kenny’s criticism, and denied it impeded the inquiry into child abuse in the Cloyne diocese.

Mr Kenny said that three requests made by the Murphy Commission to the Vatican for information in 2006, 2007 and 2009 were “rejected”.

He said he wished to see the Catholic church “co-operate” with the Government – as with other organisations - “under the law of the land”.

Asked to comment on reported criticisms of Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore’s performance in Cabinet, Mr Kenny said he played a “full and constructive part” in the process of decision-making..

He also said that the Government could not “unpick” the severance payments worth over €700,000 given to top civil servant Dermot McCarthy. Mr McCarthy, who was secretary-general to the Government and to the taoiseach’s department, retired in July after 11 years in his post.