The father of a newborn boy who died at Portlaoise Hospital three years ago has called on Health Minister Leo Varadkar to order a public inquiry into infant deaths at the hospital.

Three very sick babies, one less than a week old, had to be transferred between hospitals in the back of a taxi, the HSE admitted last night.

Opposition parties have demanded to know why a promised inquiry into the deaths of babies at Cavan General Hospital did not take place.

Parents of babies who died at the Midland Regional Hospital in Portlaoise told Health Minister Leo Varadkar last night they hoped the culture of cover-up in medical institutions had ended.