The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, today had a telephone conversation with Democratic Unionist Party Leader the Rev Ian Paisley to discuss the difficulties in the Northern Ireland peace process.
A Government spokesman said the 15-minute lunchtime talks gave Mr Ahern an opportunity to update Mr Paisley on yesterday's meetings in Dublin with Sinn Fein, the Ulster Unionist Party and the SDLP.
Mr Ahern gave a clear message to Sinn Fein that it must abandon all paramilitary and criminal activity for good to take part in power sharing talks, according to the spokesman.
Mr Ahern will meet the Independent Monitoring Commission in Dublin on Monday and the Brityish Prime Minister Tony Blair next Tuesday.