A father of one of the babies whose deaths were investigated at the Midlands Regional Hospital in Portlaoise has accused the HSE of "running for cover".
The HSE had threatened legal action after seeing a draft report from HIQA into the deaths of five babies at the hospital which, it has been alleged, contains some criticism of senior HSE management.
Health Minister Leo Varadkar said that Government agencies should not sue each other.
Mark Molloy's son was one of the babies who died, and says his and the other families testimony is being called into question by the HSE.
"[HSE director general] Tony O'Brien speaks of heresy and unverified accounts," said Mr Molloy.
"He's calling the reports, or the accounts of the families into question.
"Now, our son is dead - if he wants to come to the graveyard in Castlebrack, he can see Mark's little white cross, so that should be enough verification for him.
"But on a bigger scale, the bottom line is that this is the first time that … the practice of senior HSE management has been called into question, and that's why we're seeing this kickback."