The Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, has said there must be some reflection before any new Government action in the wake of the latest revelations concerning clerical sex abuse in the Dublin archdiocese.
Fine Gael and Labour yesterday called for the investigation of clerical child sex abuse to be taken out of the hands of the Catholic Church following the RTÉ Prime Time programme on the handling of such cases.
However Mr McDowell said the issue was "too important for any rushed decisions. It will require some degree of reflection before any decision is taken at governmental or ministerial level." He said the new revelations were "disturbing" and "a cause for concern".
Mr McDowell did not see the Prime Time programme and is to watch a tape of it at the weekend.
Department of Justice sources said last night that he may consult the Ministers for Health and Education, who have had responsibility for previous action on this issue, before deciding what action was appropriate. It was too important and sensitive for any "knee-jerk response", the sources said.
Fine Gael's justice spokesman, Mr John Deasy, yesterday called for an independent Garda inquiry.
"How can anyone expect the public to trust an inquiry conducted by the Church, given their historical collusion in hiding and denying these crimes?" he asked.
"Rape is a serious crime. It is a horrific and traumatic experience for the victim. When the rapist is known to the victim and is a trusted and respected figure, it is even more horrific. The rape of a child steals their childhood and often their adult life as well."
Mr Deasy praised the courage of the victims who came forward to tell their stories. "The least they deserve is to have their case heard in a court of law. No rapist can be above the law because of their profession, faith or the code of secrecy of their organisation.
"Though these crimes were committed by the clergy, 'canon law' will not suffice. These crimes occurred in this State and must be investigated and prosecuted under the laws of the State."
Labour's justice spokesman, Mr Pat Rabbitte, said the current inquiry by Mr George Birmingham SC into sex abuse in the Ferns diocese should be extended to cover the archdiocese of Dublin. "What we now know is of such seriousness that I believe it is no longer appropriate to leave the matter entirely to the Church authorities.
"Public concern requires that some wider form of inquiry is now held into the extent of the abuse and the way in which these matters were dealt with," Mr Rabbitte added, "particularly to establish if any delay in dealing with complaints exposed children to unnecessary risk."