The Dunne investigation into post-mortem practice and procedure in the State since 1970 is to have a statutory phase, the Minister for Health and Children, Mr Martin, confirmed in the Dáil yesterday.

The inquiry's chairman, Ms Anne Dunne, SC, had informed the Minister last month it still had a substantial amount of work to undertake - and could not say when the report would be available.

He considered it unfair to Parents for Justice and other parties concerned about the retention of organs in hospitals if the process were allowed to drag on indefinitely.

"The organ retention of organ issues will have a statutory phase," said Mr Martin. If it was not possible to do arrange this through an Oireachtas Committee, "whether as a result of the Supreme court judgment in the Abbeylara case or otherwise", he was committed to it being done through "another appropriate forum, with statutory powers".