The Taoiseach is to receive an honorary doctorate today from Boston College.

Enda Kenny will also deliver the commencement address to 3,000 students graduating from the college this semester.

Commencement addresses are usually attended by the Archbishop of Boston, in keeping with the college’s Catholic roots, but Cardinal Sean O’Malley is boycotting the event.

He says he's avoiding the ceremony in protest against Enda Kenny's moves to legislation for abortion in limited circumstances.