US President George W. Bush made a brief stopover in Ireland last night when his plane, Air Force One, touched down in Shannon tor refuel at midnight.
The president, who was on route to Afghanistan, took the opportunity for a 20 minute photo call with US troops on the tarmac.
The news of Mr Bush's visit and his meeting with the troops has prompted one Opposition TD to question the cost of such an operation and the moral implications of allowing the US President "rally" his troops on Irish soil.
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said he would be raising the issue in the Dáil.
Mr Sargent drew attention to the difference in cost between security for Mr Bush's visit during the early hours of this morning - estimated at €300,000 - and that afforded to the Love Ulster parade in Dublin on Saturday.
Anti-war protesters have also hit-out at the visit.
Richard Boyd-Barrett, from the Irish Anti-War Movement, said: "We think this is further evidence of our Government's collusion with the Bush administration, as they must have known for some time that it was going to take place due to the major garda presence."
Mr Boyd-Barrett said the Government did not reveal details of the stop-over in advance to prevent any anti-war protests.
"It is in line with the policy of this Government in assisting the US war machine, as they are allowing thousands of US troops to pass through Shannon Airport and they are refusing to search CIA planes which could be possibly used in rendition flights," he said.
Around 20,000 US troops each month are believed to pass through the airport en route to the war in Iraq.