A Dáil vote on an amendment to a Fine Gael private members bill on the medical card issue was carried by the Government with a reduced majority of seven votes tonight.
In the division which took pace at 8.30 pm, the Government won the vote despite the defection to the Opposition of Joe Behan, who resigned from Fianna Fail last week, and Independent TD, Finian McGrath, who had supported the coalition since the last election.
A Government amendment to the Fine Gael motion was carried by 81 to 74 in three votes.
During the debate a succession of Fianna Fail and Green Party speakers apologised for the hurt caused to the elderly by the budget decision on medical cards but they accused the Opposition parties of spreading misinformation designed to cause fear and panic among the over 70s.
Earlier, tens of thousands of senior citizens and students protested in Dublin at separate demonstrations in Dublin.
Up to 15,000 people attended the first protest in a rally organised by the Senior Citizens Parliament outside the Dáil against the changes to the over 70s medical card scheme. Later, thousands of students took to the streets to protest against increases in college registration charges and the potential reintroduction of third level fees.
Minister for Older People Maire Hoctor and Green Party TD Ciaran Cuffe were booed and heckled by the crowd demonstrating against the medical card measure.
People shouted "out, out" and "lies" as minister Hoctor spoke and people were heard to shout "on your bike" and "what about the vote" and "do it tonight” as deputy Cuffe addressed the crowd.
Gardaí estimated that 15,000 students participated in the second demonstration where the focus was on the 67 per cent increase to the student registration charge announced in last week’s budget and recent allusions to the reintroduction of third level fees by Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe.
The protest, organised by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), saw students from across the country gather in Parnell Square ahead of a march to Leinster House, where student leaders and Opposition politicians addressed the protesters.
Meanwhile, the Government prepared for a reduced majority in tonight’s Dáil vote on Fine Gael private member's motion calling for a reversal of the Government's decision to abolish medical cards.
The Government's Dáil majority was cut from 12 to eight last night with the defection of Independent TD, Finian McGrath who joined Wicklow TD Joe Behan, who resigned from Fianna Fáil last week, on the Opposition side of the House.
However, the Fianna Fáil-led coalition was seen this evening as having done enough to secure the support of Mr Lowry and the other independent TD who supports the Government, Jackie Healy-Rae following yesterday’s move to amend two key elements of the Budget in the face of a backbench revolt.
Serious tensions developed between the coalition parties and widespread public anger emerged in the last week at the decision to abolish the over-70s medical card scheme.
Government sources have emphasised that the decisions on the medical card and the income levy had been taken within the parameters of the budget and that other savings would be made to compensate.