The South Eastern Health Board has confirmed that it has commissioned an independent review into the handling of a case involving the investigation of one of its employees.
It is understood that the case involved accusations of child abuse but a health board spokeswoman said she could not comment on that.
It is also understood that the employee was the subject of an investigation which did not result in criminal proceedings.
The investigation will look at the health board's response to the claims and its treatment of the staff member after the accusations came to light.
A Sunday newspaper made a series of allegations about the handling of the case but the spokeswoman said these allegations could not be commented on at this stage.
The board has employed Ms Madeleine Clarke, the former deputy chief executive of Barnardo's, to carry out the independent review.
"Ms Clarke has a wealth of experience in the area of the protection of children and was a member of the working group on developing National Guidelines on the Welfare and Protection of Children (1999)," Ms Deirdre Dunne said, on behalf of the health board.
Ms Clarke, who is a registered psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland, was a founder member of the Children's Rights Alliance and was elected its first chairwoman.
Ms Dunne said the review would be completed in a matter of weeks. The board would then make a full statement. It would take into account any recommendations made in the review and would co-operate fully with the independent investigator, Ms Dunne said.
However, Labour health board member, Mr Michael Meaney, said last night if there was to be any review into the handling of such an investigation then it should be a judicial review. He said a judicial review would have "teeth".