THE GOVERNMENT HAS suffered its first defeat in the Dáil this evening.

The Fine Gael/independents minority government lost its first vote in Dáil after it put forward a counter-motion to a Labour Party motion on workers’ rights.

The government’s counter-motion was defeated by 58 votes in favour to 78 against – signalling its first defeat in the Dáil.

The Labour motion is calling for increased worker’s rights – including a significant increase in the minimum wage, a Living Wage of €11.50 to be adopted in the public sector and for increased worker protections, among other measures.

It was carried after the government did not challenge it when its own counter-motion was defeated.

The government faced down a Sinn Fein motion last week calling for the abolition of water charges and Irish Water – defeating the Sinn Féin and Right2Water proposal when Fianna Fáil abstained from the vote on its counter-motion.

The previous week, they decided not to put forward their own counter-motion in response to Fianna Fáil’s motion on mortgage rates – in order not to be defeated.

An AAA/PBP amendment to the Labour motion was also defeated by 104 votes against to seven in favour.

Read: Alan Kelly says he’s been proven right about Irish Water