The Bishop of Cloyne, Dr John Magee, bluntly ignored mounting calls for his resignation last night as he vowed to “co-operate fully” with the new Irish Government-ordered probe into clerical abuse allegations in his diocese.

In a statement released through his diocesan office, Newry-born Dr Magee also pointed to the fact a Health Service Executive (HSE) report published yesterday confirmed his diocese had “engaged fully” with their inquiry last year.

The statement — which made no mention of calls for the bishop’s retirement or resignation — also repeated Dr Magee’s apology to the victims of clerical abuse.

The Diocese of Cloyne vowed the Archdiocese inquiry will now be “fully supported”.

“Bishop Magee will give every possible cooperation to the commission in carrying out its task.

“The Diocese of Cloyne has also viewed the HSE report into the management of child sexual abuse issues in the diocese and we accept its findings,” the statement said.

“As has been outlined in the report, the diocese engaged fully with the HSE in the preparation of this report and we agreed action to be taken which would enhance the capacity of the diocese in the area of child protection.”

The Diocese stressed child protection recommendations are already being acted upon — a child protection delegate is already in place in the Cork diocese.

“As already stated in his address to the people of the diocese on Christmas Eve, Bishop Magee is ‘taking full responsibility for the implementation of all recommendations made in the NBSC (National Board for Safeguarding Children) report.’”

In his third statement on the child protection controversy, Dr Magee again apologised to victims.

“Bishop Magee wishes to again sincerely apologise to all victims of abuse by priests of the Diocese of Cloyne and to urge any person who has been abused or has concerns about child protection to contact the Gardai, the HSE or the diocese.”

Dr Magee is now expected to oversee the first Confirmations in the Diocese of Cloyne in March and the Easter ceremonies next April.

The HSE study was the second report in three weeks which raised questions over how Cloyne managed complaints against two unnamed clerics.

Yesterday, calls were again made for Dr Magee to resign by victims’ rights groups and politicians.

Labour TD Sean Sherlock said he felt the only option for Dr Magee was to resign.

“It would be my view, quite frankly, that the bishop’s position is untenable. That is my very strong view at this stage,” the Cork TD said.

Last month Dr Magee ordered the publication of the report by the Church watchdog body, the NBSC, into the clerical abuse allegations.

The NBSC report was scathing in its criticisms of how Cloyne officials handled the complaints by five alleged victims against two unnamed clerics.

As the controversy raged on unabated, Dr Magee then issued a special Christmas Eve message in which he personally accepted responsibility — and vowed to see through the implementation of the NBSC recommendations.