Three votes in it as Dáil backs Finance Bill by 80 votes to 77

The Finance Bill has passed its first major hurdle with the second stage getting the backing of the Dáil by 80 votes to 77.

Independents Jackie Healy Rae and Michael Lowry supported it after the Government agreed to a number of key concessions, including:

- A supertax on bankers’ bonuses;

- Revised tax relief for parents paying student fees;

- A commitment that the deadline for filing tax returns will not be brought back a month to September 30 as outlined in last Friday’s Finance Bill.

Independent Mattie McGrath, who opposed the Bill on a number of grounds, abstained during various votes this afternoon.

The electronic vote in the Dáil revealed the Government won by two votes - 80 in favour and 78 against.

But Fine Gael called for a “walk through” vote in the Dáil to force TDs to openly declare for or against.

The walk through, which is the official record, showed a Government victory by three votes - 80 to 77 - after independent Mattie McGrath abstained.