The newly appointed acting chief executive at the Irish Blood Transfusion Service has pledged to make it his immediate priority to "restore some semblance of stability" at the blood bank.
Speaking to The Irish Times on his first day in office, Mr Andrew Kelly said the task facing him was enormous but he regarded his role as much a challenge as an opportunity.
He has taken over the reins at the beleaguered blood service following an out-of-court settlement earlier this week with the IBTS chief executive, Mr Martin Hynes, who was controversially suspended by the IBTS board.
His suspension arose from the board's dissatisfaction with his decision to place Dr Joan Power, IBTS regional director in Cork, on administrative leave over the alleged withholding of information.
Dr Power denied the allegation and was reinstated by the board.
The suspensions were the latest in a series of conflicts between the Cork and Dublin blood centres.
There had been previous disputes over plans to centralise blood testing in Dublin, and Dr Power had taken an unsuccessful bullying action against Mr Hynes.
Mr Kelly, who has been promoted from his post as deputy chief executive, said he would work towards healing the rift between the Cork and Dublin centres.
"What happened over the last few weeks has been difficult but the organisation has to move on from the current situation and see maybe how we can do things differently and have more inclusiveness in the organisation and develop, if you like, more cohesiveness between Dublin and Cork," he said.
He would try to "make the organisation a better place to work in", he added.
"It is a big challenge, there's no question about that. We obviously have had difficulties in the last few weeks, and the Lindsay tribunal report will soon be published. In addition, we face a new inquiry and the ongoing business of ensuring a safe and sufficient blood supply.
"All of those pose a challenge in their own right, not to mention the challenge they pose all together," he said.
Mr Kelly revealed that the new inquiry ordered recently by the Minister for Health into issues surrounding the delay in notifying some 28 donors that they were infected with hepatitis C would be conducted by a senior counsel who will report back to the Minister.
The terms of reference for the inquiry are now being completed.