A disagreement had developed between the chief executive of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and its chairwoman before she handed in her resignation last month, it has emerged.
The row between the chief executive, Mr Martin Hynes, and the former chairwoman, Prof Patricia Barker, centred around the distribution of copies of a report into the blood bank's operations compiled by industrial relations specialist Mr Phil Flynn.
His report, which has not been published, identified a number of "important shortcomings" in the organisation and recommended changes, particularly at the Cork centre of the service.
Minutes of a meeting of the board of the IBTS in July, at which the Flynn report was discussed, were released this week under the Freedom of Information Act and reveal Mr Hynes felt the report was "irresponsible" but Prof Barker disagreed with him.
At the meeting Mr Hynes also expressed concern that "due process" was not followed in relation to the distribution of the report.
It had been agreed at an earlier meeting that only the report's recommendations would be distributed to people named in it. However, two people named in it were given a full copy of the report.
Dr Barker told the meeting she had, on foot of "legal clearance", circulated a full copy of the report to the two people mentioned.
Mr Hynes complained that other senior staff were disappointed at not having a full copy of the report and felt they did not have "parity of esteem". He claimed the process which was agreed and what subsequently happened was "unfair" to him and his staff and "had a potential to impact on his credibility".
It was suggested Mr Hynes and Prof Barker should meet to discuss the situation. However, Prof Barker resigned weeks later and her intention to resign was signalled at the meeting. The minutes noted: "Arising from developments in the aftermath of the Flynn report, the chairman (Prof Barker) reported that having sought legal advice, she was considering her position."
Her resignation was the third from the Irish Blood Transfusion Service board this year. She has been replaced by the Donegal county manager, Mr Michael McLoone.
The Flynn report said acrimony between the Dublin and Cork centres were among a number of "important shortcomings" identified in the organisation and it recommended "a comprehensive programme of organisation development and change management ".