The Government has agreed to a statutory public inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services.
It said that a facilitator will be appointed to consult with stakeholders on scoping the content of potential terms of reference for an inquiry.
The Department of Health is to consult with the Attorney General on progressing this issue.
The Government said there is a considerable body of work to be undertaken, to ensure the clearest terms of reference for a statutory inquiry.
Further Government approval will be sought for the final terms of reference, it said.
In a statement issued this evening, the Department of Health said: "Today, the Government agreed to a statutory public inquiry into spina bifida and complex scoliosis services.
"As an initial step, the Government agreed that a facilitator will be appointed to consult with stakeholders on scoping the content of potential terms of reference for an inquiry.
"The Department of Health will consult closely with the Office of the Attorney General on progressing this exercise following this decision of Government."
Earlier today, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill brought a memo to the Cabinet recommending the establishment of a statutory public model of inquiry.
The development follows a meeting last week between Tánaiste Simon Harris, Ms Carroll MacNeill and the parents of Harvey Morrison and relevant advocacy groups.
Harvey, who was from Clondalkin in Dublin, had spina bifida and scoliosis. He was nine years old when he died in July.
He had waited a number of years for spinal surgery and was first placed on the waiting list in February 2022.
The Department of Health statement continued: "This will be a time-bound exercise, but there is a considerable body of work to be undertaken to ensure that we ultimately have the clearest possible terms of reference for a statutory inquiry.
"It is important that the many issues raised are carefully considered as to what may be the best way to achieve the outcomes sought by families and other stakeholders.
"Once this scoping exercise is complete, further Government approval will be sought for the final terms of reference."
Speaking to reporters outside Government Buildings earlier today, Mr Harris said that he did not want to "pre-empt" the terms of reference.
"Let's be honest, trust between officialdom, Official Ireland, CHI, and the likes and the family and representative groups is at a very, very low level for very understandable reasons," he said.
Mr Harris said there are significant areas of concern and that there is a need for an inquiry.
He said it is important that a facilitator is given time and space to constructively engage with the Minister for Health.
After the meeting last week, Harvey's mother, Gillian Sherratt, said the Government has agreed in principle to a statutory public inquiry which will look at Harvey's case and how other children with spina bifida and scoliosis have been dealt with.
Earlier this month, a newspaper reported claims that Harvey was taken off a surgery waiting list, because Children's Health Ireland (CHI) believed he was a palliative patient.
The Sunday Times said the claims were made by a whistleblower within CHI in a Protected Disclosure which is currently under investigation.
The co-lead of the Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus Paediatric Advocacy Group said any statutory inquiry must have an in depth look at the overall care given to these children.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Úna Keightley said significant amounts of money have been invested into these services over the last number of years, but there have not been corresponding increased levels of activity in them
Additionally the deaths of children living with scoliosis and spina bifida must be investigated to see if their deaths were linked to delayed care or post-operative complications or infections, she said.
Ms Keightley said any tribunal must also include compellability of persons and documents and that a full public tribunal inquiry is essential in order for all the questions to be answered.
"Unless it's a tribunal, we'll have a very narrow scope, and some parts of the publications can be redacted, and the control of the whole tribunal must be outside of government", she said, adding that most important voice is that of the child's.
