The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) say they will investigate the care and treatment provided to Savita Halappanavar.
It follows a request from the Health Service Executive (HSE) who is conducting a seperate investigation.
The board of HIQA say they will investigate the safety, quality and standards of services provided by the HSE at University Hospital Galway (UHG) to critically ill patients, including critically ill pregnant women as was reflected in the care and treatment provided to Mrs. Halappanavar.
The investigation will assess whether the services provided complied with the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare and national and international evidence of what is known to achieve best outcomes.
The Authority says it has requested and received information from University Hospital Galway and the HSE to establish the facts about the case.
The terms of reference and membership of the investigation team will be published when they are finalised.
The Authority says it will not make any further public comment until the investigation has concluded.
The report and its recommendations will also be published then.
Health Minister prepared to meet Praveen Halappanavar
The Health Minister is in Galway today but is not due to meet with the husband of Savita Halappanavar.
James Reilly says he is prepared to meet with Praveen Halappanavar but he has received no request for such a meeting either from him or his legal team.
A solicitor for Mr. Halappanavar says a full public inquiry into the death of the 31-year-old is the only acceptable option.
Minister Reilly says the involvement of HIQA would be a positive development but the Health Service Executive (HSE) clinical review will proceed.
"The clinical review will continue because it must do so - we have to reassure the women using Galway Hospital that it's safe, and we have to satisfy ourselves of that too" he said.
"That's moving ahead at pace and it'll be finished very shortly".
"The information that they gather then can be used by HIQA".
"I think that'd be a very positive development, it would add another dimension to this" he added.
Minister meets Indian Ambassador
Senior HSE staff from the West are attending briefings with the Health Minister at Merlin Park Hospital in Galway today.
The Indian Ambassador to Ireland Debashish Chakravarti met with Minister Reilly yesterday to discuss the case but the Health Minister says he does not see the matter becoming an international incident.
A leaked portion of the expert report on abortion which is due to be discussed by the Cabinet next week suggests that legislation will be needed to deal with the Supreme Court 'X Case' ruling.
