Mr Martin Hynes is expected to return to his office at the Irish Blood Transfusion Service this morning following a High Court ruling that the IBTS board could not continue its suspension of him.
He was suspended from his post as chief executive officer on Sunday.
The board met all day yesterday and into the night. The meeting included interviews with its national medical director, Dr Willie Murphy, and with its Cork regional director, Dr Joan Power, about events which preceded Mr Hynes's suspension.
Mr Hynes got a High Court Court order yesterday afternoon preventing the IBTS from replacing him as c.e.o. and lifting the suspension imposed by Friday's board meeting.
The board was also told not to undertake any hearing of complaints made by its chairman, Mr Michael McLoone, in a letter to Mr Hynes last week.
The temporary court orders last until next Monday.
While the board has given no public explanation for its actions, it is clear from yesterday's court hearing that the crisis is an outcome of the delay by the then Blood Transfusion Service Board in informing at least 28 blood donors of positive test results for hepatitis C.
That delay is to be the subject of an inquiry announced by the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, following representations from Positive Action.
Terms of reference for the inquiry are to be published very shortly. It is understood that Cork University Hospital, three of whose staff are on the board of the IBTS, may have a role in the conduct of the inquiry.
The matter had been raised at the Finlay tribunal where Dr Power confirmed that one donor, who is believed to have initiated legal proceedings, had tested positive for hepatitis C on several occasions before being told of his test results.
She said uncertainty at the time over the accuracy of the tests, and a fear of causing unnecessary alarm, warranted deferring the disclosure of results.
The latest crisis was sparked off when the IBTS national medical director, Dr Murply, sought the addresses of the donors from Dr Power.
According to Mr Hynes, she refused to give the information to Dr Murphy but offered to give it to the chairman of the board, Mr McLoone. It is understood Dr Power also felt the IBTS already had the information it needed.
Dr Power was subsequently suspended by Mr Hynes. However, the board overturned the suspension some days later and, in a further few days, suspended Mr Hynes.
Members of the Blood Board
Appointed by Mr Micheál Martin, Minister for Health and Children:
Mr Michael McLoone, Donegal county manager, and former chief executive officer, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin;
Dr Elizabeth Keane, director of public health, Southern Health Board;
Mr Tony McNamara, general manager, Cork University Hospital;
Mr Pat Farrell, former general secretary, Fianna Fáil;
Dr Mary Horgan, consultant in infectious diseases, Cork University Hospital;
Dr Bridget Ann O'Connor, consultant anaesthetist at Waterford Regional Hospital;
Dr Gerard Crotty, consultant haematologist, Midland Health Board;
Dr Helen Enright, consultant haematologist, Tallaght Hospital, Dublin;
Ms Maura McGrath, leadership and organisational change manager, Bank of Ireland;
Dr Karen Murphy, consultant haematologist, St Vincent's University Hospital, Dublin.
Appointed by Mr Michael Noonan, Minister for Health, and reappointed by Mr Brian Cowen and Mr Martin:
Ms Valerie Mannix, businesswoman, Youghal, Co Cork.