Varadkar and Ross have different views on timing of Pope's visit (it may clash with abortion poll)
Two senior Government ministers have clashed over the planned 2018 visit of the Pope to Ireland due to the close proximity of the trip to a likely referendum on this country's abortion laws, .
Speaking at separate events in Dublin today, Transport Minister Shane Ross and Social Protection Minister Leo Varadkar welcomed the plans but took polar opposite views on whether it is appropriate for the Pope to visit while the abortion debate takes place.
Asked about the issue at a Tourism Ireland launch, Independent Alliance TD Mr Ross said although the Pope "would be very, very welcome" and that "I don't have a big issue with it", the proximity to the likely abortion referendum may not be appropriate.
Repeating comments he made late last week, Mr Ross said: "I just think, simply, there may be better times to come than in the middle of a controversial matter in which he might get embroiled."
Asked to respond to the comment at a separate event for deaf people, Fine Gael TD Leo Varadkar said the visit and the likely referendum are different issues and should not be seen in the same context as each other.
"When it comes to any decision on a referendum on the eighth amendment, I think that's a totally separate issue and shouldn't affect the timing [of the visit] in any way," he said.
"I think people will be able to have a debate about that issue [Ireland's abortion laws] separate to the visit of anybody from overseas."
Mr Varadkar said the reality is the reception for the Pope is almost certain to be "different" to that of Pope John Paul II in 1979 - an event which took place in the year he (Varadkar) was born.
However, he said "hundreds of thousands if not millions of people" will still attend the visit as he is "a very popular Pope, and the visit is very welcome".
Meanwhile, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin has said he is very pleased Pope Francis hopes to visit Ireland in 2018.
He said preparations for the World Meeting of Families are already underway and that he (Archbishop Martin) is travelling to Rome this afternoon to meet with the Council who will be planning it.
The event will take place in Dublin on August 22 to 26, 2018 with the theme 'The Gospel of the Family: Joy for the World'. The Archdiocese of Dublin is the host diocese for this event which takes place once every three years in different parts of the world.
