The pair discussed north-south co-operation on health and social care issues.

Mary Lou McDonald said the new Children’s Hosptial will be ‘understaffed from day one’.

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill said a commissioning phase lasting up to nine months would be required once the building was completed

The Minister for Health said he had asked Bam for more workers to be put on site to help finish the job.

'This is all down to a flawed contract,' David Cullinane said.

The €2.2 billion hospital is projected to start treating children in 2025.

The Government has faced criticism over the terms of the HSE-commissioned review into children’s spinal surgeries