Minister for Children Barry Andrews stressed today he wants the Health Service Executive (HSE) to address fully the issues surrounding the abuse of six children by their mother in Co Roscommon.
A 40-year old woman was sentenced to seven years in prison yesterday after pleading guilty to incest, sexual assault and neglect of her children.
HSE social services were in contact with the family over an eight-year period before the children were taken into care in 2004.
Mr Andrews, who yesterday expressed “absolute shock and abhorrence” at the case, has ordered the HSE to complete an investigation by Monday into its dealings with the family.
Speaking on RTÉ radio at lunchtime, Mr Andrews defended his decision not to establish an independent inquiry.
"This is obviously an initial investigation to establish the facts so that I can have a look at, for example, the chronology of contact and interventions between this family and the tragic circumstances that arose with the statutory services," said Mr Andrews.
"I think it is the initial step that has to be taken to be sure that the HSE acted in the correct way...after that obviously I will have to access what other steps may be taken thereafter," he added.
Meanwhile, the Irish Association of Social Workers has called for accountability and for a constitutional referendum on children’s rights following yesterday's sentencing.
"The details that have begun to emerge from media reports are shocking, including children suffering from hunger, living in sub standard conditions, alcohol abuse and a 13-year-old-boy being forced to engage in sexual acts by his mother," a statement from the association said.
Declan Coogan, spokesman for the organisation, said the case highlighted the need for a constitutional referendum on the rights of the child and called on the Government to fulfil a commitment by former taoiseach Bertie Ahern hold such a referendum.
Mr Coogan added the Roscommon case demonstrated the realities with which social workers in Ireland are "very familiar".
"The Irish Association of Social Workers welcome the announcement by Minister Barry Andrews that he will have a report on the matter from the HSE within days, calls on him to act immediately following receipt of this report, and to outline clearly the reasons for his actions," the body's statement added.
Judge Miriam Reynolds said yesterday the mother was the first woman in the history of the State to be convicted of incest. A man on this charge would face life, the judge said. However, the maximum sentence available for a woman was seven years under legislation dating back to 1908.
The court heard evidence of how the woman forced one son to have sex with her on a number of occasions when he was just 13.
The children, who were bullied at school because they were covered with lice and fleas, were forced to live in squalor, in a freezing, filthy home, overrun with mice and rats.