A national women's and infants' health programme to improve maternity services is to be established by Minister for Health Leo Varadkar.

He told the Dáil the programme would span the delivery of services across the country.

“Modelled on the highly successful national cancer programme, it will provide the leadership and have the authority to deliver the strategy and to drive reform and standardise care across all 19 maternity units,’’ he added.

Mr Varadkar was replying to a Fianna Fáil Private Members’ motion on infant deaths in Portlaoise hospital.

He said the Hiqa report on the issue had not named any individual and he did not have the power to effect summary dismissals or sanctions against people who were not in his employment.

“I do not propose to comment further at this time other than to say that a number of staff have had complaints made to their professional regulatory bodies, relating to their involvement in care in Portlaoise.

“These will be investigated in line with standard procedures and the law.’’

HSE investigation

In addition, the HSE was finalising an investigation in line with its code of governance and disciplinary procedures which might result in action being taken against some individuals in management positions. He welcomed the report, which had followed the 2014 report by the Chief Medical Officer into perinatal deaths at Portlaoise.

“I believe that the criticism is justified, and I am disappointed that our health service was found to be so lacking in compassion and care, two core values of the service we strive to deliver.’’

Mr Varadkar said families and patients were treated badly and it was not only an issue of resources. “It costs nothing to care,” he said.

Fianna Fáil’s Seán Fleming said the HSE “does not want the truth to come out”. Mr Fleming, in whose constituency Portlaoise Hospital is located, said “I stress that”.

He added that the Health Service Executive was already involved in a row over who would be involved in the review of services. “It is the culture of top management to protect the HSE.”

There had to be an honest discussion about Portlaoise, but he said it would take an outsider to deal with the problem because the HSE’s culture “is first and foremost to protect the institution”.

Fianna Fáil health spokesman Billy Kelleher said only for the persistence of the parents, nobody would be any the wiser and the pretence would have continued that the hospital was safe and adequately staffed. He said the previous minister for health made political decisions that needed to be explained, including why Portlaoise was singled out for "special treatment" in terms of retention of its status.

Sinn Féin health spokesman Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin believed the National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre was not informed about a number of deaths of babies. “Nothing was learned or changed following their passing,” he said.