The Government narrowly avoided losing a vote on the Finance Bill this week when a Minister and two Ministers of State were absent from the Dail chamber.
The Government Chief Whip, Mr Seamus Brennan, was reported to be annoyed when the Minister for Defence, Mr Smith, and Ministers of State Ms Mary Hanafin and Mr Tom Kitt were missing when the opposition called an unexpected vote last Wednesday night.
Mr Brennan has spoken to the Ministers about the importance of their attendance when votes are expected. A source said: "Put it like this: it will not happen again."
The Government won a first division agreeing the second stage of the Finance Bill by 71 votes to 67 at 10.30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Several pairings had been agreed by the party whips for TDs unable to attend.
However, in a surprise move Fine Gael and Labour called a second vote 10 minutes later on a motion that the Finance Bill be referred to the Committee on Finance and the Public Service.
Normally a Bill is referred to a committee by agreement, but the opposition decided to call a vote when it was realised that some Fianna Fail members were missing from the chamber. The Government narrowly won the second vote by 68 to 66.
Two months ago Mr Seamus Brennan, had to speak to TDs about attendance in the Dail after several were missing for a vote. With the Government depending on the support of the independents for a majority, attendance is crucial.
A source said that the missing Ministers did not know a second vote was going to be called.
"But we have to be on our toes. We can't take anything for granted when the numbers are so tight."