Minister of State John Halligan has added his voice to calls for an independent investigation into mortuary facilities at University Hospital Waterford as the journalist who broke the story tells of six families who have raised concerns.

Post mortems are no longer to be carried out University Hospital Waterford mortuary in State cases, according to gardaí.

Management at University Hospital in Waterford have received a complaint about mortuary facilities at the hospital from the family of a deceased person whose remains were kept in conditions which have been described by pathologists as "unfit for purpose".

The Taoiseach has said holding an investigation into claims by consultants that dead bodies were left decomposing on a mortuary corridor at University Hospital Waterford is not one of his priorities.

The Government's response to claims about the state of University Hospital Waterford's mortuary has been described as "alarming" by a group representing over 90% of hospital consultants.

The South/South West Hospital Group has said it has not received any complaint from the public or an incident report from staff over the mortuary at University Hospital Waterford.

A mobile refrigerated unit will be onsite at University Hospital Waterford within the next two weeks after it emerged there is not enough capacity at its mortuary.

A Meath mortician is planning to open the first Irish facility to offer eco-friendly cremations, using water not flames.