O'Dea wins vote of confidence

The Dáil has voted in favour of Defence Minister Willie O'Dea in the "confidence" vote this evening.

Mr O'Dea won the vote by 80 votes to 69.

Last night Fine Gael tabled a motion of no confidence in Mr O'Dea. The motion was due to be debated next week, but the Taoiseach Brian Cowen told the Dáil that a vote of confidence would be held today.

Minister O'Dea last night denied making an untrue statement in a defamation case last year, saying it was a mistake which he later corrected.

Before the vote, Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny accused the Defence Minister of "conducting an act of criminality against the State".

Also, Mr Cowen had said there is "no question of perjury", and the Dáil "now has to waste time that could be used for more pressing matters".