Government wins Dáil vote after TDs fall into line
A Fine Gael motion that the plan should be scrapped to allow all over-70s to hold onto their medical cards was defeated by 81 votes to 74 in what some deputies said was one of the most important votes they had undertaken.
Independents Michael Lowry and Jackie Healy Rae, who had threatened to vote against the Government, last night gave their support after getting a number of assurances in relation to their constituencies and the medical card scheme.