THE TAOISEACH is expected to make an appeal for discipline among Fianna Fáil TDs when he addresses his parliamentary party today in advance of a crucial vote in the Dáil on the over-70s medical card scheme tomorrow night.
The Government's Dáil majority was cut from 12 to eight last night with the defection of Independent TD, Finian McGrath.
He will join Wicklow TD Joe Behan, who resigned from Fianna Fáil last week, on the Opposition side of the House.
Jackie Healy Rae, another Independent TD who has supported the Government since its formation last year, has also expressed strong opposition to the medical card decision but has not indicated how he will vote on the Fine Gael motion calling for its reversal.
The scale of the backbench revolt on the issue prompted the Taoiseach to postpone his departure on a trade mission to China for two days in order to address the party meeting which has been brought forward to 12.30pm today.
All of the TDs who criticised the Budget decision are expected to support the Government in the vote tomorrow night in the light of commitments that the income thresholds will be raised.
The future of the coalition now depends on the continued loyalty of the Green Party. The Greens yesterday criticised the way the medical card controversy had been handled but made it clear they were staying in Government.
Ministers are hoping that contracts with the Irish Medical Organisation can produce a compromise whereby doctors will accept a reduction in the €640 annual fee for the over-70s medical card.
Fianna Fáil and Green Party Ministers have insisted, however, that the principle of universal entitlement to a medical card for people over 70 will have to go. Government sources said the current policy of an automatic medical card for all over-70s "would eventually bankrupt the country" because of an aging population, increasing longevity and high medical inflation.
The Fine Gael motion to be debated tonight and tomorrow night calls for the complete reversal of the decision to abolish full medical cards for the over-70s.
The party chief whip, Paul Kehoe, said Fine Gael would restrict pairing arrangements for the vote. Only the Taoiseach and the Minister for Education, Batt O'Keeffe, will be covered because they will be in China on a trade mission.
Government Chief Whip Pat Carey expressed confidence there would be full support for the Government from Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators. "All the indications are that that will be so," he said.
Minister for Gaeltacht and Rural Affairs Éamon Ó Cuív is expected to return home from Portland, Maine, for the vote as is the former chief whip, Tom Kitt, who is in Uganda.
Mr Carey will tell TDs at today's meeting that non-attendance for votes in the Dáil this week will not be tolerated.
The Government is also under pressure on the 1 per cent income levy and the Cabinet will this morning discuss the Irish Congress of Trade Union's proposal that those earning under €23,000 per annum be excluded from it.
Sources yesterday emphasised that the Government had given an undertaking to consider the proposals put forward but had not committed itself to making any decision.
However, there is a strong likelihood that pensioners will be exempted because the cost is minimal, no more than €6 million per annum.
If those on or below the minimum wage are also exempted, it will cost €50 million which will have to be found from elsewhere.