A new report says that patients should be able to request the removal of crucifixes or other religious symbols from hospitals run by religious orders.
The independent report has examined the relationship between the state and hospitals run by religious orders.
12 hospitals around the country are either owned by faith-based organisations or have some degree of religious order involvement.
It recommends that hospitals run by religious orders should remove Catholic statues and crucifixes if a patient asks.
The report also found that there was no difference in the quality of care by hospitals with a religious ethos and those with none.
And it raises questions over whether the state should continue to fund religious run hospitals if they refuse to provide abortions or contraception.
Health Minister Simon Harris, who commissioned the report has welcomed the findings:
'I am committed to further strengthening the relationship between the State and voluntary organisations so that both can work together in the best interests of patients and service users.'
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar says that the ethos of a publicly funded hospital should reflect the public as a whole and not just one religion.
He added that religion shouldn't be banished from hospitals but that all religions should be represented:
'I'd have a crib and I'd have a Menorah up for Hanukkah and something for Eid'
