The chief executive of Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, Dublin, has indicated he plans to resign from his post.
Michael Lyons has said he is leaving the job for personal reasons.
He has worked in the health service for some 40 years and was the chief executive of the former eastern regional health authority before it was disbanded to allow for the establishment of the Health Service Executive.
He said last night: "After 40 years working in the health service including the Department of Health, other health agencies including Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children in Crumlin, I have decided to retire from the health service for personal reasons."
It has been stressed that his decision to retire at this time has nothing to do with the controversy which surrounds Crumlin hospital at present.
Crumlin went public recently over its board's opposition to Government-backed plans to merge the three children's hospitals in Dublin into one national children's hospital.
The intention is to build the new hospital on the campus of Dublin's Mater hospital.