Taoiseach behind Bruton despite gaffe

Taoiseach Enda Kenny stood firmly behind Richard Bruton despite his gaffe that could cost the Government votes in the fiscal treaty referendum.

The enterprise minister had made a mistake but there would be no re-run of the vote, Mr Kenny said.

He refused to comment on the latest opinion polls that showed his government satisfaction rating plummeting, but appeared to leave the door open to doing a live TV debate on the treaty.