The defence of the right to life as part of the common good will be raised by Archbishop Eamon Martin when he meets with Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, as part of official Church State talks due to take place at the end of the summer.  A Church source told the Sunday Times that Archbishop Martin is expected to tell Mr Varadkar that the Eighth amendment, which recognises the right to life of the unborn child, is for the “common good”. Dr Martin will make it clear that the Church will campaign against repeal of the amendment, through homilies at mass and in pastoral letters.

The talks are part of official Church-State dialogue initiated by Bertie Ahearn in 2007 and will include representatives of various Churches, faith communities and Atheist Ireland. They are due to take place at the end of the summer before the Dáil resumes after its summer recess.