The chief executive of the Health Service Executive has been defending the decision to build a new national children's hospital at the Mater Hospital site in Dublin.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, Brendan Drumm denied that politics had anything to do with the decision to site the hospital.
Mr Drumm said: 'I can absolutely guarantee you that there has been no political interference in this.
'I can tell you quite clearly the site has been chosen with nothing but professional input and the people on it could never be accused of being in any way politically connected.'
Yesterday, Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin said it would not be participating in the plans for the new hospital.
