The Irish stance is all the stronger given their past subservience to the Vatican.

Taking any particular religion out of it, this is about something other than the horrific abuse. it is about supremacy of government over religion.

There are many, and increasingly in the British Anglican movement for that matter, who feel their allegiance to their church is stronger than their allegiance to government. Granted, we all think we can run the country better and hold individual politicians to ridicule, but this manifests in thinking the word of a religious leader takes precedence over laws. (Church of England vs The Equality Act, saying they are being victimised for discriminating against women and gays, a catholic adoption agency who won't place children with a same sex couple, the B&B owners who judge guests on their sexuality etc.)

The law is the law. Religious belief is easily accommodated within western world laws, but withholding criminal evidence is against the law, and the sanctity of the confession must be on the understanding you do not compromise the priest, who is put in an awkward position of either breaking his vows or breaking the law.