RTÉ has defended the spending of more than €230,000 on private chauffeur services over a six-year period.
The broadcaster said this included saloon cars, six-seaters and minibuses and covers the years from 2021 to 2026.
Programme teams are required to transport a variety of guests (actors, authors, musicians, performers, dignitaries, and more) to studios and other locations, a RTÉ spokesperson said.
They added that while many guests, participants and presenters are transported by taxi, these car hire services are often required for live programmes such as the Late Late Show.
They are also needed for live sports programming and for live events and performances, including those featuring the RTÉ Concert Orchestra.
Documents sent by RTÉ to the Dáil's Public Accounts Committee show that more than €318,000 was spent on taxis last year.
Watch: 'There is no end to RTÉ's sense of entitlement', McDonald tells Dáil
The spokesperson said that taxi services for guests, contributors and staff reflect the comprehensive nature of RTÉ's operations, including those outside of public transport hours.
In the Dáil, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said the Government "does in not any shape or form defend any excessive or unnecessary expenditure" by RTÉ.
He was responding to Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald, who told the house that "there is no end to RTÉ's sense of entitlement in its attitude to the spending of public money … and no end, it seems, either to the lack of oversight from your Government".
She said that the money was spent on luxury cars for guests and presenters.
"Now, this isn't to be confused with your common or garden taxi," Ms McDonald said.
"Can you tell me how it is appropriate in any way that this type of money is blown on luxury limos?" she asked.
Mr Martin said RTÉ is being brought under the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General and PAC to provide a "specific mechanism to hold RTÉ to account for the type of expenditure that you've just described".
"And it is a matter for RTÉ to account for that," he said.
Mr Martin said that the Government "does in not any shape or form defend any excessive or unnecessary expenditure of the type that you have outlined".
