Independent ministers have failed in their bid to discover how Ireland voted in a contentious UN vote last month.
Three independent members of cabinet were unhappy at the secrecy around whether Ireland supported Saudi Arabia's bid to join a UN commission on women's rights.
The issue was raised during today's cabinet meeting, but Fine Gael is refusing to breach the idea of a secret ballot.
However they have agreed to tell independent ministers in future when 'red flag' issues are being raised at the UN.