The Taoiseach and the Government were compared to Oliver Cromwell in a Dáil row over Covid-19 restrictions, closure of churches and claims that Ireland is the only EU country “effectively locking people into their homes”.

Independent TD Michael McNamara made the comparison with the English soldier who suppressed rebellion in Ireland in the 17th century and crushed the Catholic church and clergy.

The Clare TD said rights could be restricted on the basis of public health “but those restrictions have to be proportionate and necessary. In Ireland, churches and all religious denominations (places of worship) are closed”.

Mr McNamara said the Scottish supreme court had on Wednesday ruled that it was contrary to the European Convention on Human Rights and disproportionate to close the churches.

“If it is disproportionate in Scotland, it is disproportionate in Ireland because we are bound by the same convention.”

He assailed Taoiseach Micheál Martin for saying on radio that we live in a liberal democracy: “Either he does not know what a liberal democracy is or the man is deluded.”

He said Mr Martin promised to govern as a republican when he was elected. “There are many republican traditions, one of which is the tradition of Oliver Cromwell. It is in that republican tradition he and the Government are currently governing.”