Finance Bill vote expected to pass as Lowry and Healy Rae row in

A crucial vote on the Finance Bill is taking place in the Dáil around now.

Frantic behind-the-scenes discussions have been taking place all morning after three independent TDs threatened to vote against the legislation, a move that would trigger a snap General Election.

Jackie Healy Rae and Michael Lowry will now support the Bill, but Deputy Mattie McGrath has not made his intentions clear.

In the Dáil earlier, the Independent TD said he would be taking a stand on behalf of his constituents.

"I'm not saying I'm putting local politics before national politics. I'm not...But I am standing up for basic rights for ordinary, plain people," he said.

Before a meeting with Mr Cowen to air his concerns earlier, Mr Lowry said he believed measures in the Finance Bill would put pressure on small businesses and farmers.

And he claimed moves to tax bankers’ bonuses had been left out of the Bill because Fine Gael and Labour have forced the Government to rush it through.

But he denied he was going to lobby the Taoiseach to make promises for his constituency.

“When that meeting is over I’m going to discuss the issues in an open and fair way,” Mr Lowry said.

“I want to make this very clear. I’m not going in there to discuss with the Taoiseach any constituency matter. This is a matter of national importance, this is a national issue.”

Shortly after the meeting, Mr Lowry revealed that both he and Mr Healy Rae would vote in favour of the Bill.

In a statement after the meeting, Mr Lowry said he had been given assurances that an amendment to deal with a supertax on bankers’ bonuses would be brought forward.

He also blamed the controversy over which way he would vote on the limited one-week timeframe Fine Gael and Labour had forced on the Bill.

"It is appalling and unacceptable that the proposed taxation measures on bankers' bonuses were not to be dealt with because of the time restriction placed by Labour and Fine Gael on the passage of the Bill," Mr Lowry said.

“The minister has agreed to my request to introduce an amendment to deal with this issue.”

Mr Lowry said the minority Government secured his support after he was given assurances on tax relief on student fees and tax return issues for farmers.

Mr Healy Rae also attended the meeting.

It is not clear how Mr McGrath will vote when the first stage of the Bill is put before the Dáil in the next few minutes.