The Taoiseach and Tanaiste stated strikingly similar positions on the national stadium project yesterday at separate events in Dublin in an apparent attempt to minimise divisions between them.
Both repeated that the Government had agreed to a review of the project and an independent assessment of the costs. Both also emphasised that the aquatic centre was the only aspect of the multi-faceted sports campus to which the Government was firmly committed and said decisions on the rest must await the outside assessment of the costs.
Speaking to reporters at UCD Mr Ahern agreed the costs of the project had been rising, and that this gave cause for concern. However, he rejected as "nonsense" claims that it could cost £1 billion.
Mr Ahern also accused the Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, of opposing the stadium project because he had no personal interest in sport.
"I would understand Michael Noonan not having any interest much in sport," said Mr Ahern. "He might have a minor interest in one sport. The Government he was last involved in spent £13 million on sport when they left power. We are now spending £117 million on sport."
The Taoiseach asked if Mr Noonan's position was that none of the large sums of money available for investment should go to sport.
"If that's his vision for the future I hope he never gets power because it will be a bad day for this country."
He said the Government had decided to review the project and to examine the costs. "We'll do that over the next few months. It's important we do that. Costs have been going up. But all this nonsense about a billion - this project is not going to cost a billion.
"We have to watch the cost and of course we'll do that. We'll have an independent external review. But this country badly needs good modern sporting facilities and I hope we can provide them."
He said people had to decide "do we ever want to be in the vanguard of sport? Do we always want . . . any athlete that aspires to any standard to go abroad to swim or to run or do any sport?"
Ms Harney said she had not made any threat to pull out of Government over the issue, although her comments in yesterday's Irish Examiner implied such a threat. Asked about the consequences of a decision to proceed with the stadium she told the newspaper: "If the party in Government can't live with a particular decision - then the consequences of that are obvious."
She told reporters yesterday it was important to have the best possible information before making a decision.
"Recently the Taoiseach and I agreed that an independent analysis would be carried out on the proposal and that no new contracts would be entered into until that analysis is completed."