There were heated exchanges between the Government and Opposition before the formal Budget debate began. The controversy over single-income families was raised at Taoiseach's Question Time, and later on the Order of Business, as Opposition deputies questioned if the Government still had a majority in the House.
However, when a vote was challenged on yesterday's Dail schedule, with the opposition demanding more time for the Budget debate, the Government won two divisions, by 78 votes to 64 and 79 votes to 63.
Three of the Independents supporting the Government, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, Kerry South, Mr Thomas Gildea, Donegal South West, and Mr Harry Blaney, Donegal North East, voted with it. The fourth Independent supporting the Government, Ms Mildred Fox, Wicklow, is in the United States.
The Fine Gael spokesman on finance, Mr Michael Noonan, asked the Taoiseach if he did not understand the difficulties of SIPTU, representing its workers in social partnership talks in circumstances where the Budget gave £4 a week to a family on £10,000 and £50 a week to a family on £50,000.
Mr Ahern said SIPTU knew precisely what was in the Budget, as he did. People at all levels would pay less tax, less on the rates and, in the lifetime of the Government, he looked forward to taking the maximum number of people out of the tax net.
He had already said one of the Government's priorities was to find a way where the worst evil of the tax system could be removed: where people on less than the average industrial wage were taxed at the higher rate. "Nowhere else in Europe does that happen."
Mr Joe Higgins (Socialist Party, Dublin West) said SIPTU had withdrawn from the partnership talks because it came under sustained pressure from its low-paid members who were outraged at how they were treated.
When the Taoiseach said the Budget had been passed by the Dail and he hoped the Finance Bill would also pass, the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, said all that had been voted through was a 50p increase in the price of cigarettes.
Mr Ahern said: "On Budget night, Deputy Bruton, in one of his more eloquent speeches, called on the House to have a vote on the entire Budget based on the abolition of the foreign travel tax. Unfortunately for him he lost that vote."
Mr Bruton replied: "I called for it and, unfortunately, lost, but I will win the next time. On this Budget, I certainly want a vote in the House." Amid further exchanges, Mr Ahern said: "I should have a word with Deputy Bruton. He brought two budgets to the floor in the House and flopped in both of them."
Mr Bruton said he was prepared to go before the people with his budget. "When will the Taoiseach do the same?" Mr Ahern replied: "In June 2002."
Mr Bruton said he had received the highest vote in his political career and secured the highest vote for his party. "The Taoiseach must go to the people with this Budget."
Mr Ahern replied: "I must correct Deputy Bruton. He did not go to the people - he was forced to go."
