Coalition won’t seek Seanad majority

Coalition leaders have insisted they will not try and restore their majority in the Seanad by cutting deals with rebels after the defeat of Government candidate John McNulty.

Independent candidate Gerard Craughwell won the tight by-election race, in which only Oireachtas members were allowed to vote, following a bruising controversy which left Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s grip on Fine Gael shaken.

In a further blow to Mr Kenny’s authority, many Government TDs and senators defied demands not to back Mr McNulty.