Two nursing home patients were buried without proper death certificates being issued, it was claimed in the Dáil today.
Under current regulations, a nursing home must notify a coroner if a resident dies without being seen by their doctor in the previous 28 days.
Death certificates must also be issued before the body is buried. But Fine Gael frontbench spokesman Fergus O'Dowd said: "In one particular nursing home in Leinster, two patients were buried without this process being properly followed.
"That is very disturbing indeed." Mr O'Dowd said there were also around 10 other cases where death notifications were unsatisfactory or inaccurate. "It's a very serious matter," said the community affairs spokesman.
"Health minister Mary Harney promised to bring in new legislation during this term to deal with all of these issues but nothing has happened."
Mr O'Dowd tried to raise the issue with Ms Harney several times during the Dáil's Order of Business this morning but was ruled out of order by the Ceann Comhairle.
When Mr O'Dowd asked if new legislation would be brought forward during the current Dáil term, Ms Harney replied: "It will be."
Ms Harney promised sweeping changes in regulations governing the operation of nursing homes after controversies earlier this year.
RTÉ's Prime Time Investigates programme has screened allegations of mistreatment of residents at the Lees Cross Nursing Home in Swords, Co Dublin.
Mr O'Dowd said today that he has asked the local Health Service Executive to give him details of its investigation into the specific allegations he has made.
"It seems to me to be extremely disturbing and upsetting that there isn't absolute and total due process and care when people die, particularly in nursing homes," he said. "It is absolutely mandatory that we have a totally professional and transparent situation."
The Drogheda TD added: "The majority of nursing homes are excellent and are very good, but the homes where these issues are arising must be investigated."