The Taoiseach defended the Government's decision to sponsor the Irish Masters snooker tournament.
Mr Ahern said that for many years a cigarette company had sponsored the tournament. "This has been strongly objected to by members of the public who are anti-smoking and wish to promote healthy living."
The Taoiseach was replying to the Fine Gael deputy leader, Mrs Nora Owen, who challenged him to justify why the Department of Health and Children was spending £600,000 sponsoring the tournament at a time when people were waiting for months and years for operations.
"That money alone could pay for 350 cataract operations and take people out of suffering and near-total blindness."
Mr Ahern said the sponsorship would involve £200,000 per year over the next three years. The money was being provided from existing funds earmarked for health promotion and anti-tobacco initiatives by the Department.
The other sponsor, Citywest, would host the tournament in March, he added.
"Health sponsorship of this prestigious international event, which has an enormous audience, will heighten the public profile of the health agencies involved and will strengthen the anti-smoking message we have been trying to follow for a long time."
Mr Charles Flanagan (FG, Laois-Offaly) said it was the equivalent to a couch of potatoes in terms of physical fitness.
Mr Ahern said it would bring home to viewers, especially young people, the positive aspects of not taking up smoking.