The Health Minister has won a confidence motion in the Dáil.
James Reilly took the vote by 99 votes to 50.
Earlier the Junior Health Minister Roisin Shortall delivered a speech on the motion of confidence without declaring support for Mr. Reilly or even mentioning him once.
There was a show of support from the coalition tonight with the Taoiseach, Tánaiste and other Ministers rallying to doctor his defence.
Most of the Cabinet were present in the chamber for the debate tonight as the Taoiseach led the support of the embattled minister.
All eyes though were on the Junior Health Minister Shortall who has had a fractious relationship with Minister Reilly.
She spoke for 4 minutes earlier in the debate without mentioning Minister Reilly once.
Minister Shortall demanded more action on primary health care delivery and criticised the lack of priority on the delivery of free GP care.
She also said “We must also have a clear road-map that charts the way forward, and ends the uncertainty about the future”.
A vote of confidence saw the Minister win the motion with 99 votes.
The coalition was expected to win comfortably with its large majority.
TDs who lost the government whip – Tommy Broughan, Patrick Nulty and Denis Naughton sided with the opposition and voted no confidence.
Last night James Reilly vowed to continue in his job and to continue with reforms which he says are already delivering a better health service.
But Fianna Fáil had accused him of presiding over bedlam, dysfunction and chaos.
On Monday the Taoiseach had said the coalition would show the confidence they have in the Health Minister in the vote tonight.
The issue of the vote and health cuts dominated the first day back of the Dáil on Tuesday.
The motion was tabled by Fianna Fail after the Health Service Executive (HSE) announced cuts in services for people with disabilities ”“ some of which were later reversed.
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