Tributes paid to Dr Walsh's roles with the Irish Bishops Drugs Initiative, the Bishops’ Commission for Pastoral Care, Cura, and as Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Ferns.

They prayed that the survivors, their families and loved ones may find strength and healing in their faith and receive the support of compassionate caregivers as they begin to recover from the trauma of their physical and emotional wounds.

“The removal of a ban on sports sponsorship, limits on advertising, point-of-sales display controls and minimum pricing is of deep concern” – Bishop Eamonn Walsh.

“We cannot stoop to the injustice of categorising drug addicts as if they were mere objects or broken machines; each person must be valued and appreciated in his or her dignity in order to enable them to be healed" – Pope Francis.

“It has become so difficult for people to resist the culture of artificial and chemical enhancement for all kinds of performances and entertainment” - Bishop Éamonn Walsh.

Irish Bishops' Drugs Initiative offers congratulations to 56,000 students but cautions them about the health and safety risks of alcohol use.

“Sponsorship of sporting events targets young people and promotes a culture which suggests that healthy living is synonymous with alcohol consumption.”

“The last thing I want to be is a killjoy – I love sports but I do know that the advertising of alcohol in sporting events influences young people extraordinarily.”

Vice-chair of Irish Bishops’ Drugs Initiative responds to call for the opening of pubs on Good Friday.

Irish Bishops Drugs Initiative holds national conference in Dublin at weekend.