DAIL VOTE:THE CONTROVERSIAL carbon tax, which increases the cost of petrol, diesel and other fuels from midnight last night, was passed in the Dáil by 82 to 58 votes with the abstention of the Labour party.
It followed the first Budget vote earlier yesterday evening reducing excise rates on alcohol in which the Government had a comfortable 88 to 75 majority.
Sinn Féin and Independents Noel Grealish, Jackie Healy-Rae and Michael Lowry supported the Government as did the three Fianna Fáil deputies who are outside the parliamentary party – Jim McDaid, Jimmy Devins and Eamon Scanlon.
Independents Maureen O’Sullivan, Finian McGrath and former Fianna Fáil TD Joe Behan voted with Fine Gael and Labour who opposed the alcohol tax cut, which comes into effect at midnight.
Mr Behan said he would oppose all measures in the Budget because it was “a bad day for the country and a bad day for Fianna Fáil”.