The Government has narrowly avoided defeat in a vote in the Dáil this afternoon.

A motion on revised estimates was carried by 61 votes to 60.

It led the Opposition to call a second vote on the matter.

In that vote it was tied 63 each, and the Ceann Comhairle had to use his casting vote and go with the Government.

Meanwhile, the opposition has charged the government with ‘harbouring a perjurer at the cabinet table’.

The Fine Gael leader made the charge as the controversy surrounding the Defence Minister continues – despite assertions from the Government that the matter is closed.

Willie O’Dea is now facing a second motion of no confidence – this time in the Seanad – over the controversy of his false affidavit.

There were rowdy scenes in both the Dáil and Seanad – with a 10 minute suspension of the Dáil.

Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan clashed over Minister O’Dea’s explanation of events.

“Standards in the country have dropped because the government’s harbour a perjurer at the cabinet table” he said.

“I would ask the leader of the opposition to withdraw his charge that the Minister for Defence committed perjury, because… the matter has now being dealt with in my view by  by the House and the members of this House – and by this government” Coughlan replied.

The Limerick leader has released the recording of the interview journalist Mark Dwayne conducted with the Defence Minister.

It can be heard here: http://tinyurl.com/y8rklg8