Opposition parties have attacked the Government over last night's Cabinet decision to purchase an aircraft larger than the existing Gulfstream IV, which has been plagued by breakdowns.
The decisions were condemned by the opposition last night, which said that it displayed a "perverse sense of priorities" in light of current economic difficulties.
Fine Gael's TD Mr Dinny McGinley said it was "an extravagant spending spree at a time of severe economic cutbacks in every area, from health, to education and to infrastructure.
Labour's spoksperson on Transport, Ms Roisin Shorthall said: "The decision of the government to acquire what amounts to a small fleet of new aircraft for ministerial transport reflects a perverse sense of priorities on the part of Fianna Fail and the Progressive Democrats.
"At a time when the public are being asked to accept a seemingly endless round of cutbacks and increases in the cost of public services, it is extraordinary that the government can apparently find the money for this lavish outlay without any great difficulty," she added.
Ms Shorthall also asked: "What is more important? The Taoiseach being embarrassed by an occasional breakdown of the Government jet or a child being educated in a dilapidated or rat-infested school?
"A junior minister having to take a scheduled flight or patients being asked to spend hours on hospital trolleys? Comfort and convenience for the leaders of Government or the chronic needs of those with disabilities"?
Green Party TD, Mr Eamon Ryan, said he accepted that the Government needed better transport for the six-month EU presidency, which begins in January.
"However, I would have preferred if they had leased an aircraft. That is what a lot of major multinationals are doing. It is cheaper.
The Cabinet last night approved plans to spend as much as €80m on the new aircraft. Plans to purchase a new smaller aircraft were also approved. The Gulfstream IV will be retained until the end of Ireland's EU Presidency in 2004.
Mr Ahern missed a meeting in New York in 2000 with the UN secretary general, Mr Kofi Annan, after the Gulfstream IV broke down on the runway of Washington's National Airport.
Under EU rules, the tender for a new aircraft must be advertised in the EU Journal for 52 days. "Then the tenders will have to be got back, and the aircraft plants will have to be visited," said a source.