Fianna Fáil backbenchers are being invited to a series of private dinners with the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, against the backdrop of sustained criticism of the Coalition by Fianna Fáil backbenchers.
The TDs will dine in Government buildings in groups of 20, with the first gathering scheduled for next Tuesday evening.
The Government spokeswoman insisted last night that such dinners took place every year at this time.
However, one TD said yesterday he believed the dinners were part of a "charm offensive" by Mr Ahern to silence dissent on the backbenches.
Another said he believed the Taoiseach would take soundings on policy and performance from the party.
In his invitations, Mr Ahern said the gatherings would provide an opportunity to ascertain the views of TDs on the challenges facing Fianna Fáil in the period ahead.
However, the Government spokeswoman said the meetings were in no way a response to backbenchers expressing disquiet about the Government's performance.
This stance was repeated by a Fianna Fáil spokeswoman who said the party would pay for the dinners, which take place in the run-up to the Dáil summer recess in July.
While Mr Ahern met new TDs last autumn, the latest round of dinners with all backbenchers is the first since the election last year. They follow frequent complaints by Fianna Fáil TDs about the influence of the PDs, the stance on the Iraq war and the abolition of the dual mandate.
The proposed ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants has also drawn criticism, as has a suggestion by the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, that superstores, such as the furniture chain IKEA, should be allowed to establish branches in the Republic.
Open criticism of the Government led Mr Ahern to endorse a move by the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party to develop a code of conduct forbidding "extreme criticism".
While the code was to be introduced after Easter, it was postponed due to what was described as pressure of work. Backbenchers had criticised the plan, although the party has said it would be introduced later this summer.
The Taoiseach continued a round of discussions on Ireland's forthcoming EU Presidency yesterday, holding talks in Tallinn and Helsinki with the Estonian and Finnish Prime Ministers.
Mr Ahern will visit all current EU member-states, as well as those who will join in May, to discuss the agenda for Ireland's Presidency from January to June 2004. His talks yesterday also focused on the European Convention whose deliberations will shortly conclude, the forthcoming Inter-Governmental Conference which will devise a new EU treaty and issues currently affecting the European economy.
While Finland is a long-standing EU member, Estonia will be among the 10 states which will join on May 1st, during Ireland's presidency.
The Taoiseach left Dublin yesterday morning and returned last night. While in Helsinki, he also visited the Naval vessel the LE Eithne which is currently touring the Baltic.