Updated 12.40

The family of one of the babies who died at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise believe he would be alive today if lessons had been learned.

A television documentary revealed that four infants died shortly after birth, although they weren't suffering from any abnormalities at the onset of labour.

The Taoiseach says he will await the outcome of a report into the deaths before considering calls for a public inquiry.

However Mark Molloy from Co. Offaly, whose baby son Mark was among the babies to die at the hospital - says an independent inquiry is needed:

Earlier the Taoiseach described it as a 'harrowing time' for the families of the babies who died.

The Health Minister has requested a full report on the facility, and speaking in Cork this morning, Taoiseach Enda Kenny said he would wait to see the details of that before deciding on a public inquiry:

A senior medic has said it is possible other babies' lives could have been saved at Portlaoise hospital if changes had been made.

Newstalk Breakfast this morning asked Director of the National Epidemiology Centre Richard Greene if other deaths could have been prevented if changes had been made after baby Nathan Molyneaux's death in 2008:

Meanwhile, Patient Focus is calling for an independent inquiry into the deaths of the babies, one that goes back as far as ten years and examines care in all maternity units.

Spokesperson Bridget Doherty says an apology from the HSE isn't enough: