The presenter’s comment was neither balanced nor objective, and people’s beliefs for or against IVF should not have been dismissed in such a manner, according to the complainant.

The post and Facebook page have since been removed and a new post on the parish website includes an apology for any hurt caused and states that all children are cherished and God-given.

This ruling makes the forthcoming referendum more important than ever, according to the Iona Institute, which said that the Eighth Amendment is now the “only constitutional protection” that children have before birth.

Decision to relinquish role should bring closure to row over the proposed ownership and ethos of the new National Maternity Hospital at the campus of St Vincent’s Hospital.

“I want to be very clear that I want this time to pursue solutions that address the issue of the ownership of the facility, that is the new NMH” – Simon Harris.