The Taoiseach has confirmed the coalition accepts an ESRI report and will not proceed with their long-standing plan for Universal Health Insurance.

The Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said Universal Health Insurance will not now be introduced until at least a third term of the current Government.

Experts warned against it and the opposition predicted that universal health insurance (UHI) would never get off the ground.

Despite being a key tenet of the programme for government, there is still no sign of universal health insurance, writes Brian Turner

The government says its putting off the introduction of its Universal Health Insurance for the time being.

The Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin says Government moves to abandon its policy on Universal Health Insurance "are a resigning matter".

Minister for Health Leo Varadkar is expected to tell the Cabinet this morning that previous plans for universal health insurance are too costly.

The Health Minister Leo Varadkar has said he hopes to have an outline per-person cost for universal health insurance (UHI) in April.

Health Minister James Reilly is to review restrictions on the issuing of discretionary medical cards following warnings from Fine Gael backbenchers that the controversy was becoming unmanageable on the doorsteps.

Thousands of middle- income families without health insurance cover could be hit with an extra €3,000 average annual bill as part of the Government’s plans to create a single-tier, equal access health service.

Taxpayers could face a double charge for healthcare when universal health insurance is introduced amid uncertainty about how the new model will be funded.

The widower of Susie Long, who died trying to reform Ireland’s two-tier health system, has claimed Health Minister James Reilly’s plan for universal health insurance is the polar opposite of what she wanted.

Health Minister James Reilly has insisted everyone will be a winner as a result of his universal health insurance plan — but has failed to reveal exactly how much it will cost the public.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has insisted that the Government's proposed plans for Universal Health Insurance (UHI) will not mean extra costs for the public.

Health Minister James Reilly is to delay the publication of a policy paper on universal health insurance so he can give a full response to many issues raised by his Cabinet colleagues.

Cabinet tensions over the costs involved in introducing universal health insurance have added to uncertainty over the flagship government policy.

The Taoiseach said he does not accept that health premiums will cost €1,600 per person per year when premiums become mandatory by 2019.

Finance Minister Noonan has today laughed off suggestions that Taoiseach Enda Kenny is eyeing a future role in Europe.

Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin has downplayed a rift at Cabinet over the cost of proposals for Universal Health Insurance.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny has insisted Ireland can afford Universal Health Insurance (UHI) and it will be delivered during the lifetime of the Government despite disagreement among ministers as to how the scheme will work.

One of the country’s largest trade unions has warned that the model of universal health insurance proposed by the Government will be “regressive” — placing an inequitable burden on low- and medium-income earners.

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A fresh coalition row is emerging over Health Minister Dr James Reilly’s universal health insurance plan, after a Labour minister said the policy is “not very detailed” and may need to be re-examined.

The Public Expenditure Minister Brendan Howlin has said he supports universal health insurance, despite his Department's claim that it poses a risk to the financial viability of the State.