In an interview with NewsTalk Breakfast radio in March 2015, Doran differentiated between Marriage and same-sex relationship: "One […] is of its very nature, directed towards the upbringing, the care of children, and one which isn't and they can't be said to be the same." and that some people who have children "are not necessarily parents". The Archbishop of Dublin, Diarmuid Martin, subsequently described it as "an unfortunate phrase" and hoped that people were not offended by Doran's comments. Doran later said that he regretted the hurt experienced by people either due to his choice of words or to the manner in which what he said had been subsequently reported.