English and Cowen say they never asked colleagues to vote for them when absent from the Dáil

The duo have said they were in the Dáil on occasions when their button was pressed but they were not in their seats.

Junior Minister Damien English and Fianna Fáil's Public Expenditure spokesman Barry Cowen have insisted they never asked anyone to vote for them when not present in the Dáil.

The duo, speaking to the Irish Examiner, have said they were in the chamber on occasions when their button was pressed but they were not in their seats.