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.”

The move saw Mr Cowen lose more support following Fianna Fáil TD Joe Behan’s decision to resign from the party over the medical card row and Independent TD Finian McGrath withdrew his support for the Government in protest at health and education cutbacks.

Mr McDaid said he believed the decision to scrap the programme meant passing a “death sentence” on a certain percentage of the 12-year-olds who would not get the vaccine.

His comments contradicted the Taoiseach, who told the Dáil that the decision would not put lives at risk.

Under the programme, which was to cost between €7m and €10m a year, 12-year-old girls were to be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV), which causes cervical cancer.

The withdrawal of the whip from Mr McDaid reduces the number of Fianna Fáil TDs in the 166 member Dáil to 75.

Mr Cowen governs with the backing of six Greens, two PDs — who have both committed to stay loyal to the Taoiseach once their party is wound up — and two Independent TDs.

Mr Behan, who dissented on the medical card issue, has signalled he may be ready to return to the FF fold after he voted with the Government over the vaccine issues and said he backed the broad thrust of policies being pursued by Mr Cowen.