Ceann Comhairle casts deciding vote in by-election motion
The Government has defeated a move by the Opposition to try and hold the Donegal by-election - but only with the casting vote of the Ceann Comhairle - after two Fianna Fáil backbenchers voted the wrong way.
Sinn Féin tried to move the writ for the Donegal South-West by-election - the seat is vacant as a result of Pat the Cope Gallagher's election to Europe 11 months ago.
But Chief Whip John Curran said the Government doesn't have the time to get involved in elections right now, "because it is too involved in resolving the economic crisis".
When it came to the vote Clare's Timmy Dooley and Galway's Frank Fahey voted against the Government - the Whip's office said it was a genuine mistake.
And with the vote tied at 76 apiece, it forced the Ceann Comhairle Seamus Kirk to use his casting vote and defeat the motion.
