The Health Service Executive (HSE) has issued a statement criticising a report by the health watchdog into the deaths of five babies at babies at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise.

The executive says a draft report by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) contained factual inaccuracies, lacked balance and failed to give reasons for some findings against certain individuals.

The HSE says it sought meetings with HIQA, which they declined.

The statement says the HSE then considered a court injunction to get a more 'balanced and fair final report', but that they are now working with HIQA on finalising the report.

The organisation said, "earlier today, some media outlets characterised the engagement by the HSE towards HIQA as 'menacing contact'. The HSE disputes strongly any such characterisation." The HSE has released five letters to HIQA "in order to allow members of the media and the public to reach their own conclusions on this matter", which can be read here.

The Health Minister Leo Varadkar says it is not appropriate for government agencies to sue one another.

The Irish Times has said the issue provoked a furious row between HIQA and the HSE - and has led to a delay in the report being published.

This report was ordered more than a year ago after a damming HSE investigation found the maternity unit was unsafe.

The chief medical officer of the executive investigated a series of baby deaths between 2006 and 2012 - he found that the families got limited respect, kindness, courtesy and consideration after raising concerns about the deaths of their babies.

Four babies at the centre of the inquiry died either during labour or within seven days of birth.

Irish Times health correspondent Paul Cullen said legal action came up as one option being considered by the HSE during a meeting with Department of Health officials last week.