The Chief Executive designate of the Health Service Executive, Tony O'Brien, has said that it would be "criminally negligent" for the HSE not to proceed with its investigation into the death of Savita Halappanavar.
Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr O'Brien said that Mr Halappanavar's consent was not required to access the medical records in this case, as they were owned by the HSE.
Mr O'Brien said that it is carrying out a clinical review in order to find clears answers as to what happened and to ensure future patient safety.
He added that the HSE was of the view a HIQA inquiry should also be conducted into this case.
"While we maintain full confidence in the review and the progress that it's making and having absolute confidence in the chairman, in order to give further reassurance to the family and public, I have had a conversation with the Chief Executive of HIQA this morning, to indicate to her that I will be requesting the board of her organisation to initiate its own statutory based inquiry which can commence in advance of the conclusion of our inquiry," Mr O'Brien said.
"There is no way we can stop this inquiry, it would be absolutely negligent, criminally negligent of us not to proceed," Mr O'Brien added.
"At the same time we have to recognise that greatest degree of confidence has to attach to the process.
"The HSE has no authority around calling sworn inquiries or tribunals. We do have the authority to carry out a clinical review which is what we are doing."
Mr O'Brien said that a local clinical review had been initially instigated in response to Ms Halappanavar's death, and that this had been subsumed by the HSE investigation.
He said that the Minister for Health, James Reilly, was not made aware of the make-up of the investigative team beyond the appointment of its chairman Professor Sabaratnam Arulkumaran ahead of the press conference on the matter.
The incoming HSE chief said that he had not made Dr Reilly specifically aware that there were originally three consultants from University Hospital Galway on the team.
"He was aware of the selection of the chair and expressed his confidence, but the wider issues of the composition were a matter for the HSE rather than the minister," Mr O'Brien said.
"I told him about 15 minutes before the press conference that took place in Dublin that we would indeed be having a press conference.
"I also told him that in accordance with our desire to try and reach agreement with the family about the terms of reference, that those would not be published at that press conference, but he was not aware of the total composition of the review team."
Mr O'Brien accepted that the HSE was initially focused on the clinical aspects of the investigation, and was not as aware as it should have been about the wider aspects involved.
However, he said that once the HSE became aware of Mr Halappanavar's concerns in relation to the make-up of the team, the three consultants from University Hospital Galway were stood down.
In relation to Mr Halappanavar's concerns about inconsistencies and alleged omissions in the medical reports he has received, Mr O'Brien said any contribution Mr Halappanavar could make to shed light on these inconsistencies would be very helpful.
"We have provided the medical records that we have to the review team. Information from Mr Halappanavar, which would speak to any inconsistencies between what's in the record and his personal experience, would be of great value to the review team.
"Now I don't want to put unreasonable pressure. I understand his position, I can empathise and sympathise with it.
"But if he has information and I know that he has made some of it available through other public domains then it would be of huge interest to the review team."
Mr O'Brien added that Prof Arulkumaran has now left the country, but that he would certainly return to interview Mr Halappanavar should he agree to do so.
"Obviously he would wish, if it were possible to speak to the family, and if that opportunity were made available he would travel to Galway or indeed any other location to make that possible," Mr O'Brien said.
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