The Catholic archbishop of Dublin and the Imam of the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland marked World Press Freedom Day yesterday by calling for the release of the kidnapped BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston.

The first bilateral meeting between representatives of the Catholic Church and the Irish Government took place yesterday as part of the new structured dialogue between the Government and the Churches.

The new head of the (Anglican) Church of Ireland has said that the 1701 Act of Settlement, which prevents a Catholic from marrying a monarch, should be abolished. He has also affirmed that the disestablishment of the Church of England would be a positive rather than a negative step.