Fine Gael is facing a public backlash after the Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday blamed Ireland's spectacular economic crash on a "mad" borrowing frenzy.
The Taoiseach was responding to questions at the World Economic Forum in Davos in Switzerland.
The comments come weeks after his address to the nation in which he said "you are not responsible for this mess".
Opposition parties have sorely criticised the Taoiseach's characterisation of the financial collapse as being down to greed on the part of the Irish people.
FF's Niall Collins accused the Taoiseach of clearly taking one approach at home and another abroad.
He said the comments are in stark contrast to his state of the Nation speech in December.
Meanwhile, Sinn Féin's Padraig MacLochlainn said Mr Kenny's remarks are "outrageous" and show no understanding of the cause of the problems in Ireland.
Last night, the Minister for Finance Michael Noonan refused to be drawn into the storm saying he did not hear the comments.