Minister of State John Halligan has confirmed he would have voted against the Government this week on a Bill on workers' rights.

The Government suffered its first defeat in the Dáil this week when its amendment to a Labour motion on workers' rights lost by 78 votes to 58.

Mr Halligan was not present for the vote due to a prearranged constituency commitment and was paired with Independent Galway West TD Noel Grealish.

On Friday Mr Halligan said he wanted to support the Labour Party motion.

“There is no whip imposed on us. We have agreed to vote for the programme for government, on votes of confidence and on budgetary votes. Anything outside of that we are free to vote whatever way we like.”

It had been reported Mr Halligan missed the vote purposely to avoid voting against the Government.

Workers’ rights

However, he insisted he had a prior engagement in Waterford and informed Chief Whip Regina Doherty of his absence.

Mr Halligan said he did not make his intention to vote against the Government clear to Ms Doherty.

Labour’s motion on the protection of workers’ rights was accepted without a vote.

It calls for the Government to introduce a legislative package to protect and enhance workers’ rights through a number of measures including ending the abuse of “if and when” contracts, combating bogus self-employment, ensuring freelance workers have the right to collective bargaining, promoting the living wage in public procurement and preventing unilateral pay reductions.

Mr Halligan had previously threatened to vote against the Government on a motion calling for the abolition of water charges.

However, he supported the Fine Gael minority Government due to a programme for government commitment that charges be suspended for nine months.