At a meeting with Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, who declared Ireland’s vote to same-sex marriage in the Constitution a “defeat for humanity,” Taoiseach Enda Kenny said the marriage referendum win is “a signal around the world that, about the nature of our population now.”

Telling the Cardinal he was “entitled” to his views, Mr Kenny spoke about the “happiness” that surrounded the Irish people’s decision, and “the fact that it allowed so many people who lived in limbo or shadows to now play their full part in society.”

Mr Kenny added Cardinal Parolin “understands that very clearly and accepts that utterly.”

Mr Kenny was in the Vatican to discuss the Pope’s visit to Ireland in 2018. He discussed issues including the citizens’ assembly examining Ireland’s abortion laws, and the history of clerical sex abuse in Ireland.

“I explained to him [Pope Francis] my own difficulties with the Church some years ago and I was happy to confirm to him that Church-State relations are in a better shape than they were for very many years,” Mr Kenny said.