"We spoke about the role of Europe and I emphasised the need for a constitution and that it should refer to our Christian values, " she said.

Merkel's government takes over the EU presidency next January with the objective of reviving the controversial constitution which was negotiated back in 2004 by Ahern during the Irish EU presidency. Supporters of a specific mention for Christian values were left disappointed as the Ahern document contained only vague references to Europe's cultural, religious and humanist heritage.

Now Merkel has reopened the debate, and she'll be pushing the Vatican line with EU leaders as they attempt to resurrect the constitution which was ultimately put on hold after its rejection at referendums in France and Denmark. During the original negotiations, Ireland was open to a Christian reference but opposition from France and Britain killed off the idea.

Ahern, with his fondness for ashes on Ash Wednesday, would have no difficulty with a God reference. A Foreign Affairs spokeswoman said: "The government would support a reference to Christianity or God if a consensus at EU level could be found." The problem may be with his coalition partners. The PDs once wanted to take God out of Bunreacht na hEireann. They later cooled on that idea but in the new Ireland, it's a debate well worth having.

It's hard to see the benefit of aligning the economic and political institutions of the EU with a specific religion or a particular set of religious values. Any specific reference to Christianity would negate the principle of church-state separation. Contemporary Europe is a multicultural and multiethnic zone, as is this country.

With the demographic changes of recent times . . . and increased secularism . . . Ireland is no longer the homogenous Catholic society of previous generations. If anything we should be moving in the opposition direction by removing the religious references still contained in the 1937 constitution. The Oireachtas could help this process by dropping the 'prayer' which is said at the start of its daily proceeding. We've changed, so it's time to change, regardless of what agenda is being pursued by the chancellor.