The controversy over the Cabinet decision to buy a new government jet has been raised in the Dáil.
Opposition parties criticised the decision, saying that other areas of the economy, most notably health, were more deserving of investment.
The Government agreed to purchase a new jet at yesterday's cabinet meeting. It was also agreed to keep the current Gulfstream IV jet until the end of the EU Presidency. The purchase of a third, smaller jet, agreed in 2001, is also to proceed.
The current Government jet, the 14 seat Gulfstream IV, has suffered a series of embarrassing breakdowns in recent months.
The Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, said the Government was trying to forget about broken electoral promises, while sitting in leather seats and Jacuzzis at 30,000 feet.
He added that the Government was preaching austerity, while wrapping a €50m Charvet shirt around itself.
The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, told the House that replacing the current Gulfstream jet was necessary because of the aircraft's age, amount of landings and mileage.
The Minister for Defence, Michael Smith, also defended the decision this morning. Speaking on RTÉ Radio, Mr Smith dismissed reports that the plane would cost €100m.
He said the Government was not going to indicate to any potential seller how much it was prepared to spend, but he agreed that the figure would probably be less than €50m.
