FF claims Cowen still strong despite third defection

FIANNA FÁIL last night denied Brian Cowen’s authority as Taoiseach had been dented by the third Government rebellion in three weeks.

Chief whip Pat Carey said the decision of Jim McDaid to abstain in a crunch Dáil vote in protest at the withdrawal of a cervical cancer vaccine from 12-year-old girls had not undermined the Government.

The coalition defeated a Fine Gael motion calling for the cancer vaccine postponement to be reversed, but Mr McDaid abstained from the vote, saying: “The withdrawal of a life-saving vaccine is not one that I can support.”