The Health Minister is welcoming an apology from the Bishop of Waterford - who suggested the HPV vaccine could cause promiscuity.

Bishop Alphonsus Cullinan claimed we should do better than to give boys condoms and girls injections.

He has since apologised for any upset he caused and said he wasn’t fully informed about the HPV vaccine.

Minister Simon Harris says he appreciates the apology:

Health Minister says he 'appreciates' Bishop's apology for saying cervical cancer vaccine could lead to promiscuity pic.twitter.com/L6YWKB8Fze

— Stephanie Grogan (@StephGrogan3) October 2, 2017

“I think the comments were extraordinarily unhelpful but I don’t feel there is any benefit in going over old ground,” he said.

“The bishop has corrected the record, conceded he was wrong and I appreciate that fact.

“We really though, do need to stop talking about bishops and medical information in the one sentence.

“Bishops have their role to play - doctors and medical professionals have another role to play.”

Ahead of the new school term, the HSE launched a new HPV vaccine awareness campaign, warning "unsubstantiated, scientifically incorrect and dangerous" claims about the vaccine have been shared in recent years.

Launching the campaign, Minister Harris called on amateurs to "please butt out" of offering medical advice on the vaccine.