Opposition parties this evening insisted that €50,000 Taoiseach Bertie Ahern received while minister of finance in the early 90s were gifts and not loans.
Mr Ahern for the first time named the 11 people who gave him money in 1993 and 1994 to help him pay for what he said were costs associated with his marital separation.
He also confirmed for the first time, the amount of money involved: IR£39,000 (€50,000). Until this evening's interview on RTE television, Mr Ahern described a report in The Irish Timeswhich said the figure involved was €50,000 to €100,000 as "off the wall".
Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said Mr Ahern's acceptance of the money - none of which has been repaid - had brought the Office of the Taoiseach into disrepute.
"By taking payments from businessmen when minister for finance, and by the manner in which he has handled this issue, the Taoiseach has undermined confidence in his leadership and has brought his office into disrepute.
Through his actions and his evasions, the Taoiseach appears to have lost all moral authority to bring to book his Ministers and Ministers of State for their indiscretions," Mr Sargent said.
He questioned the credibility of Mr Ahern's explanation saying he was treating the public with contempt. "The Taoiseach claims that these payments were loans, yet he has not repaid them and no interest has been charged. That, by any definition, is a gift.
"As a result, the Taoiseach has further questions to answer with regard to his failure to properly declare or pay tax on these gifts.
Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte also insisted the cash amounted to a gift "that in all probability would have been liable to tax".
"Why would the Taoiseach, an accountant, take out loans from associates to discharge a loan he had already raised from the AIB unless the latter loans were on superior terms?" Mr Rabbitte asked.
He said the money was the around two thirds of his salary as minister for finance at the time, the equivalent of around €130,000 currently.
The Labour Party leader said Mr Ahern had applied a different standard to himself compared to his Dail statement on former Fine Gael minister Michael Lowry in 1996 who claimed cash he received from businessman Ben Dunne was a loan.
Mr Rabbitte quoted Mr Ahern's rebuttal of Mr Lowry's explanation from the Dail record at the time of the scandal. Mr Ahern had said: "There would have to be incontrovertible written evidence of that at the time and arrangements having been made for its repayment … The making of such a personal loan on more favourable conditions than would be available from any lending institution would clearly represent a personal favour that ought to be declared."
He said Mr Ahern must now make a comprehensive statement to the Dáil and allow statements and questions from Opposition parties.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said the Taoiseach's interview had raised further questions and the situation looked "very grave" for Mr Ahern.
Mr Kenny said he would try to raise the matter during Leaders' Questions in the Dáil tomorrow and was considering making a complaint to the Standards in Public Office Commission.
"I believe he has a grave and serious issue to face here. There are a number of areas that he needs to respond to, particularly in regard to ethics for officeholders legislation, particularly in respect of the appointment of personnel to State boards," Mr Kenny said.
He called on the Revenue Commissioner to clarify whether Mr Ahern's claim there were no tax issues surrounding the payments.
He also baited the Progressive Democrats saying new leader Michael McDowell should "speak up".
Both Mr Rabbitte and Mr Sargent said Mr Ahern's appointment of some of those who lent him the money to State boards was unsatisfactory.
Mr Sargent also said Mr Ahern must explain "the new revelation" that he was paid for speaking engagements on the Irish economy while minister for finance.