There are some secrets the government of Ireland says shouldn't be kept - even if they are given in the confession box.

Legally speaking, priests in Ireland enjoy "privileged communications" - meaning they don't have to disclose information told in confession to courts. Even if it's relevant to a case about a serious offence. But following the recent Cloyne report into child abuse by priests in Ireland, the Irish Government is calling for that privilege to be lifted.

This week, the Vatican reacted angrily to the Government's plans, calling the proposed changes to the law "absurd".

Father P.J. Madden is a spokesperson for the Association of Catholic Priests in Ireland. We reached him in Carlow, Ireland earlier today.