Fine Gael yesterday described Government proposals to amend the ethics legislation as "a Band-Aid to cover the gaping sore at the heart of Government".
The party's spokesman on the environment, Fergus O'Dowd, targeted the Progressive Democrats yesterday and claimed the party's members "have wrestled with their conscience and won".
"What we have now is the smallest fig leaf possible to hide the PDs embarrassment at their self-serving decision to stay in power. If the current accommodation arrived at is to be believed, the PDs' 'Grand Ol' Duke of York' has finally made it to the bottom of the hill, where he now seems intent on staying."
He said the agreement between the Taoiseach and Tánaiste "cannot and will not disguise the turmoil right at the centre of the current coalition".
"However, it is clear that both parties agree on one issue, ethics and integrity have no part to play in a Fianna Fáil/Progressive Democrat government.
"Originally there was great fanfare from Michael McDowell and his PD colleagues about identifying donors in Manchester and the absolute necessity for apologies from the Taoiseach.
"That all fell by the wayside once it came time for the PDs to fulfil their electoral promises and hold Fianna Fáil to account," Mr O'Dowd said.
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent described the agreement on the amendment of ethics legislation as "a fudge" which offered a token reform.
"Instead of satisfying any of the demands that his Coalition partners placed on him, Ahern has thumbed his nose and threatened to walk out himself and shack up with the Independents.
"This has forced the PDs into an undignified climbdown. Unloved and powerless, they will slouch their way to electoral annihilation next year and pay a high price for their loss of principle," Mr Sargent said.