The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has described the teachers' strike as a totally disproportionate and self-defeating campaign which is placing grossly unfair pressure on pupils, particularly exam students.
Writing in The Irish Times today, Mr Ahern, in a robust defence of the Government's position, questions the necessity for industrial action given the substantial increases in teachers' pay under the PPF and the promise of more in the benchmarking review body.
The dispute, he says, "is partly about a power struggle within the ASTI", with one group seeking dominance.
Referring to recent comments by a former ASTI president, Ms Bernadine O'Sullivan, in which she said the union was on a "crusade", Mr Ahern asks: "Against whom is this crusade being conducted?"
He continues: "It seems partly to be a crusade against the rest of the public service and the whole social partnership process." Ultimately, perhaps, this is a crusade against the Government, he writes.
On the work-to-rule issue, he says money docked from teachers will be refunded once they engage in peace talks.
He defends the decision to dock pay, saying: "It is not reasonable to expect that people should be paid as normal by the taxpayer when they are failing to deliver any service."
Mr Ahern says the other teacher unions (TUI and INTO) are participating in the benchmarking process which will give a comprehensive response to ASTI claims.
Writing about this year's exams, he reassures parents: "Let me say, first of all, that the Government is quite determined to ensure that the examinations will go ahead."
Speaking about the way exam students have been treated, he says: "What is certain is that children are suffering unnecessarily. In particular, Leaving Cert students are being subjected to a grossly unfair pressure from those to whom they rightly look for guidance and example, as well as instruction."
Mr Ahern's article comes as the ASTI begins the next phase of its industrial action, starting with a one-day strike in Dublin today and spreading to other areas in following days.
His comments reflect the confidence in Government that the dispute is going its way. Public support for the ASTI's stance has been sliding.