TDs and senators are approaching the Christmas break in the knowledge that they’ll only be returning for a couple of weeks in January before the election is finally called. Which is why one ‘debate’ this week took place before an entirely empty Daíl – constituency work is where it’s at. So what’s going on as the parties prepare for battle, what does this week’s Government spat over medical cards tell us, and how is the ‘it’s Enda or it’s chaos’ narrative playing out for both Government and Opposition parties? Parliamentary correspondent Michael O’Regan and Mary Minihan of our political staff join Hugh Linehan this week to discuss the state of play.