Leo Varadkar compares universal health insurance to Irish Water scandal

Health Minister Leo Varadkar has likened the now-scrapped universal health insurance to the Irish Water debacle. He claimed it would have been impossible to impose the extra fees without a backlash from struggling families.

The health minister made the claim as he again denied the Coalition had performed a U-turn on its central health policy, but was unable to give any specific year as to when a new version will be introduced.

He also appeared to criticise his predecessor Dr James Reilly by alleging there had been an “obsession” with one form of UHI. Mr Varadkar insisted the Coalition remained committed to introducing the policy at some unspecified stage in the future.