About Us

The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference (also known as the Irish Episcopal Conference) is the assembly of the Bishops of Ireland exercising together certain pastoral offices for Christ’s faithful on the whole island of Ireland.

The Conference enables the Bishops to exchange views, and share their wisdom and experience in order to promote the common good of the Church in Ireland. General Meetings of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference normally take place on a quarterly basis.

The Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference seeks to build effective consensus among the Bishops, thereby contributing to the unity of the Church in communion with Pope Francis. Through its links with the Church in neighbouring countries and across the world, it strengthens and enriches efforts to increase faith and proclaim the Gospel message to all nations. At the same time, the Conference fully respects the personal authority, responsibility and ministry of each individual Bishop within his own diocese.

Structure

To help it fulfil its aims more effectively, the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference has established various Episcopal Commissions, departments, councils, agencies, and other bodies which focus on specific tasks and areas of responsibility within the mission of the Church. Day to day operations are overseen by a secretariat.

The five Episcopal Commissions are as follows:

You can see in the FOOTER the various councils and agencies that come under the five Episcopal Commissions.

Click here to download a booklet offering An Introduction to the Pastoral Work of the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference

Membership

The current membership of the Irish Bishops’ Conference comprises the Bishops of the 26 dioceses of Ireland and one auxiliary Bishop.

President
Archbishop Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh, Apostolic Administrator of Dromore, and Primate of All-Ireland

Vice-President
Archbishop Dermot Farrell, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland

Episcopal Secretary
Archbishop Kieran O’Reilly SMA, Archbishop of Cashel and Emly

Finance Secretary
Bishop John Fleming, Bishop of Killala

Standing Committee (2019-2022)

Archbishop Eamon Martin (President)Archbishop Dermot Farrell (Vice President) Archbishop Kieran O’ Reilly SMA (Episcopal Secretary)Archbishop Francis Duffy
Bishop John Fleming (Finance Secretary and Chairman, Planning, Communications and Resources)Bishop Noel Treanor (Chairman, Commission for Social Issues and International Affairs) Bishop Donal McKeown (Chairman, Commission for Worship, Pastoral Renewal and Faith Development) Bishop Brendan Leahy (Chairman, Commission for Catholic Education and Formation)Bishop Denis Nulty (Chairman, Commission for Pastoral Care) Bishop William CreanBishop Alan McGuckian SJ