The Minister for Health, Mr Cowen, was strongly defended by his ministerial colleagues during the resumed debate on the Labour Private Member's motion calling for him to quit.
Opposition speakers stepped up their attack on the Minister. Some outlined individual examples of hardship caused to those on hospital waiting lists.
The Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, dismissed the motion as "a juvenile exercise in pre-school parliamentarianism which is proposed by an Opposition which is unable, either in policy or performance, to match the work record and achievements of the Minister for Health."
He accused the Opposition of being more interested in the sound bite than substance. "Baseless criticism, unfounded innuendo and political character assassination are the order of the day."
The Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Dr McDaid, said the "facile tactic" of putting down a no confidence motion contributed nothing towards a serious constructive debate.
Mr Pat Rabbitte (Labour, Dublin South West) said: "I am deeply concerned about the impression given last night by the Minister that the service plan has now been adopted by the Tallaght hospital board and that all is well in Tallaght. This is emphatically not the view on the ground . . ."
The Government's amendment to the motion, reaffirming confidence in the Minister, was passed by 76 votes to 73.
Ms Beverley Cooper-Flynn (Mayo) who has lost the Fianna Fail whip following her vote against the Government last week, was absent from the House. It is understood that she was on a personal visit to Brussels and had told the Government Chief Whip that she would not be available for the vote. She has been supporting the Government in Dail divisions since last week's vote which lost her the whip.