The Tánaiste and Minister for Health, Ms Harney, has ruled out, on grounds of cost, the establishment of a statutory inquiry into illegal organ retention.
She confirmed to the Dáil that the Dunne inquiry into organ retention will be brought to a conclusion by the end of next month.
It was set up in 2000 by the then minister for health, Mr Micheal Martin, to investigate the retention of children's organs by hospitals during post-mortem examinations. It was also inquiring into the links pharmaceutical companies had to the retention of organs.
The Tánaiste believed that the facts could be established "without the expense of a statutory inquiry".
Labour's health spokeswoman, Ms Liz McManus, who raised the issue, asked if the Minister would honour the commitment made by her predecessor to hold a full statutory inquiry if the Dunne inquiry was not successful.
Ms McManus said the non-statutory inquiry had cost €20 million since it was set up and she queried reports about the establishment of some kind of inspectorate to replace it.
But Ms Harney said that she had hoped to have a report by the end of December "but that was not forthcoming".
If they do not have a report by the end of March, "it is up to me and the Government to appoint an individual or individuals who can draw up a report on what happened regarding organ retention. I believe that can be done without the expense of a statutory inquiry."
