Health Minister Simon Harris has said he believes there's a need for a review of the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford to be carried out.
He has told the Dáil he wants to take a few days to get the review process right.
It comes after four consultant pathologist raised serious concerns about the facility.
In a letter to health officials, the consultants warned the facility was over capacity and some bodies had been left to decompose in corridors.
They said this lead to "closed-coffin funerals with relatives unable to view the remains as a result of gaseous decomposition... the trauma imposed on the bereaved is almost unspeakable".
Yesterday, it emerged the State Pathologist's Office will not conduct autopsies at the mortuary 'for the time being' in light of the issues.
Responding to questions about the mortuary in the Dáil today, Minister Harris again thanked the consultants for bringing forward their concerns.
He confirmed additional temporary refrigeration facilities will be in place for the hospital by the end of the week, and that he's given a firm go-ahead for the process to build a new permanent mortuary.
He also said he believes there is a need for a review of the situation.
'Need for questions be answered'
Minister Harris told TDs: "There is a need for questions to be answered in relation to how the mortuary operates and how we make sure that best practice is in place.
"I want to take a couple of days to get this right. I want to take a couple of days in relation to the terms of reference and in terms of who should carry out that review."
He also said he'd be 'happy to hear' from any TDs from the south-east who want to send him submissions about it.
Minister Harris was responding to Sinn Féin's David Cullinane, who said an independent examination of the claims was the 'only way to get answers'.
Earlier, Deputy Cullinane said the Oireachtas Health Committee had agreed to his request for a public hearing on the situation at the mortuary.
He said: "It will hear from representatives from the South-South West hospital group, the four pathologists who initially raised the issue, as well as other relevant witnesses.
"We need to know exactly what has been going on with the mortuary, and why it has been left in a significant state of under-investment for so long."
The Waterford TD noted that the hearing would be scheduled 'in due course'.
