Primate of All Ireland Eamon Martin has stated that Bishop Kevin Doran is sorry for any offence he may have caused during an interview on Newstalk Breakfast.

Eamon Martin told journalists in Maynooth that Bishop Doran told him he regretted any hurt he may have caused from his comments on same-sex marriage and children.

Yesterday on Newstalk Breakfast, Dr Doran had this to say when it was put to him that gay people in Ireland already have children.

"They may have children - but that's the point - people who have children are not necessarily parents," he said.

"This legislation that the government is introducing - the Children and Family Relationships Bill - seems primarily focused about making it possible for people in various different relationships to have children. It's not about ensuring that children have their parents."

The Archbishop of Dublin says the comment by Bishop Kevin Doran that same-sex couples were not necessarily parents was unfortunate.

The Catholic Bishops of Ireland are calling for a No vote in the upcoming same sex marriage referendum.

They say they cannot support an amendment to the Constitution which redefines marriage and effectively places the union of two men, or two women, on a par with the marriage between a husband and wife which is open to the procreation of children.

The Bishops also say that they respect the views of people who think differently and they trust their views will also be heard and respected.

And Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said Kevin Doran’s comments yesterday were unfortunate: