In a tightly contested vote after two hours of intense debate on Wednesday night which saw Sinn Féin take aim at both Mr Harris and Fianna Fáil for its decision to abstain, the Dáil voted against removing the Health Minister.

In all, 49 Fine Gael TDs, four Independent Alliance TDs, Children's Minister Katherine Zappone and unaligned Independent Sean Canney - who are in Government - voted to back Mr Harris.

They were added to by unaligned Independents Noel Grealish, Michael Lowry and ex-communications minister Denis Naughten, who had been locked in discussions with Tánaiste Simon Coveney during earlier in the day.

Coupled with the increasingly controversial Fianna Fáil decision to abstain on no confidence votes, the result means the Government narrowly exceeded the 57 votes bare minimum to continue the confidence and supply deal.

However, despite the outcome being widely expected within political circles, the Government's relief will be tinged with concern over the preceding two hours of debate which has led to fresh calls for the coalition to collapse.

In a repeatedly heated and personalised dual attack on Mr Harris and Fianna Fáil, Sinn Féin TDs began yesterday's debate by insisting the children's hospital, cervical cancer and trolley count crises mean the Health Minister should be sacked.

Sinn Féin health spokesperson Louise O'Reilly began the assault warning Mr Harris not to monopolise last May's eighth amendment result as "you did not do that alone" and saying "even your most ardent supporter could not defend your position".

Party leader Mary Lou McDonald continued the attack, saying Mr Harris "believes he is untouchable" before turning to Fianna Fáil leader Micheal Martin to say:

The question to Micheal Martin is a simple one, either you have confidence in the minister or you don't.

Half a dozen other Sinn Féin TDs followed suit, with Martin Kenny urging Fianna Fáil and Independent TDs abstaining to "grow a spine" and Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire claiming "this motion is not about an election, it is about a crisis in health".

Fianna Fáil returned fire, with Billy Kelleher, Barry Cowen, Stephen Donnelly and Mary Butler insisting that while they do not have faith in Mr Harris they cannot risk causing an election weeks out from Brexit.

In particular, Mr Donnelly said risking an election now would be "madness", Ms Butler, Mr Kelleher said labelled Sinn Féin "a party of opportunism" and Mr Cowen took aim at Sinn Féin, claiming "you won't be love-bombing us".

However, despite the Fianna Fáil line, party TD John McGuinness then broke ranks, saying "Brexit or not" the Government's days are coming to an end.

"This debate quite clearly is putting the Government on notice, notice to quit. It should be a motion in the Government itself. I want to ask you in the face of Brexit, to have an orderly wind-down of the Government, because you are a total failure. A total failure...

"I actually don't know anymore why we support you. The majority of this House have had enough of your Government," he said.

The Government had earlier staunchly defended Mr Harris, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Tánaiste Simon Coveney and Kate O'Connell coming to his aid.

After Mr Varadkar said accountability "is not giving into the baying mob, a thirst for blood letting, and a head on a plate every second day", adding "throwing rocks" is "cowardly", Mr Coveney hit out at Sinn Féin's "keyboard warriors".

Mr Harris - who was earlier criticised for "taunting" rivals by posting a message on Twitter saying "bring it on" - said quitting "is not in my DNA" and referred to achievements under his watch including the eighth amendment referendum.

However, despite surviving the vote, his claims were ridiculed by Solidarity-People Before Profit TD Mick Barry, who said:

"'Bring it on'. 'Walking away is not in my DNA'. Minister these are like bad lines in a Clint Eastwood movie."