The Government has won the Dáil vote on the cervical cancer vaccination programme.
The outcome was initially thought to be 10 votes, but the Government actually won the vote by 76 to 67.
There was an extra Opposition vote when the votes were counted manually.
Fianna Fáil backbencher Dr Jim McDaid abstained in tonight's vote on the Fine Gael motion calling for the vaccination programme to go ahead.
He will automatically lose the Party whip.
Dr McDaid said during the debate that even though these were difficult economic times, the withdrawal of a life-saving vaccine was not a move he could support.
He said it passed a death sentence on a certain percentage of 12 year old girls.
Minister for Education Batt O'Keeffe had pointed to the continued Government plan to provide free smear tests for women between 25 and 45.
He said this would prevent 95% of cervical cancer cases.
The Taoiseach earlier accused Enda Kenny of making false assertions and mock concern during exchanges in the Dail about the withdrawal of the cervical cancer vaccine programme for girls.
Enda Kenny said a number of women, who would have been included in the scheme, will inevitably die from cervical cancer in the future.
He asked Mr Cowen to review the decision.
The Taoiseach said Mr Kenny was using emotional blackmail.
Later, Labour leader Eamon Gilmore said Minister for Health Mary Harney had not been a success and asked the Taoiseach would she continue in that role.
Mr Cowen defended the minister and said she has an excellent record in the Department.
