First stage of Social Welfare Bill passes

The Government has this afternoon comfortably won the first Dáil vote to implement the social welfare cuts proposed in the Budget.

TDs voted 81 to 74 on the second stage of the Bill to impose the 37 cuts announced last Wednesday.

Among those missing from the Government benches were the rebel Donegal TD Jim McDaid and the Greens' Paul Gogarty.

The final vote will take place at 6.30pm this evening.

Meanwhile, a Fianna Fáil backbencher says claims by some Independents that they secured new deals in return for supporting the Budget untrue.

Fianna Fáil's Ned O'Keefe says claims by Jackie Healy-Rae that he secured the building of a new hospital in Kenmare, Co Kerry in return for his vote are "bluff and bluster".