The Taoiseach has implicitly warned that unless there is a "clear signal" from paramilitary organisations that they will wind up their activities, their political representatives might not be able to participate in a future Northern Ireland Executive.
Launching his party's campaign for a Yes vote in the Belfast Agreement referendum Mr Ahern said weapons must be decommissioned if the Agreement was to work.
"We have always stated that the decommissioning of paramilitary weapons is an essential part of any settlement," he said. "If the Agreement is to work, and if all parties are to participate, then weapons have to be out of use and out of commission for good."
"Parties associated with paramilitary organisations who want to hold executive office have the responsibility to ensure that guns remain silent and out of commission, and that the ceasefires do in fact represent a total and definitive ending of violence."
Mr Ahern's statement on decommissioning follows the IRA statement earlier this week that it would not decommission any weapons. Mr Ahern's response closely resembles that of the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, who said on Thursday: "It has got to be absolutely clear that people who serve in the government of Northern Ireland have to give up violence, whichever party it is."
Mr Ahern said yesterday: "The Agreement is very clear. Anyone taking part in the Executive has to pledge `a commitment to non-violence and exclusively peaceful and democratic means' and this obviously would not be compatible with armed groups remaining active."
"How weapons are got out of the way or put to bed is a matter for discussion," he went on. "Sinn Fein and the loyalists have signed up to `a commitment to the total disarmament of all paramilitary organisations' and have promised to use any influence they have to achieve this within two years.
"We do not want decommissioning to become an obstacle to the operation of the Agreement and the achievement of peace, but equally it is not an issue that is going to go away. There has to be good faith on all sides. There has to be a clear signal given by armed groups that with a settlement in place they are going to wind up their activities. Otherwise they will make life very difficult for the political parties that represent them."
"Paramilitary organisations here would do a great service for the country, and would create a surge of confidence in the future if they too were to accept that with the implementation of this Agreement the war is over and with that their own role, and to make that clear."