It leaves the Government one vote short of a bare majority.
The Mica redress bill is being rushed through the Dáil today with a number of stages being taken in just two hours
This afternoon Fine Gael TD and former Education Minister Joe McHugh voted against that bill and he intends to do so again tonight.
It means McHugh is set to lose the Government whip, and the coalition will lose its majority in the process.
The resignation of Eoghan Murphy, defection of Marc MacSharry, and suspensions for Patrick Costello and Neasa Hourigan combined with McHugh's loss of the whip leaves the Government with just 79 votes
80 commands a bare majority in the Dáil when the Ceann Comhairle is discounted.
In reality some of those on the opposition benches regularly vote with the Government including a number of Independents
Government sources this evening stressed it has comfortably won votes and played down any chances of this causing an election.
