Election fever took a tight hold of the Dáil yesterday as formal discussions were replaced by insults hurled across the floor of the chamber.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has claimed the Government remains committed to a “form” of universal health insurance, despite delaying the reform policy for up to a decade due to long-standing cost concerns.

Fianna Fáil has attacked the Government over the rail strike, claiming that Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe had been “observing from the sidelines” and that his coalition colleagues acted like “hurlers on the ditch”.