In an unprecedented rebuke to a trade union, the Labour Court has said it is "appalled" by the decision of secondary teachers to press ahead this week with a three-day strike - despite "continuing court discussions".
Last night, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, issued a statement fully endorsing the court's demand for the strikes to be called off.
He also called for the resumption of negotiations "with a view to reaching a resolution to the current dispute for the sake of everyone involved, especially the students".
The ASTI's executive meets this morning to consider the court's demand and it is under intense pressure.
There were reports last night that if the strike-days planned for tomorrow and Thursday are not called off, the Labour Court talks may not resume, as scheduled, at midday today.
The Labour Court's call came after a difficult day of negotiations between the Association of Secondary Teachers, Ireland (ASTI) and Government officials at the court.
The Labour Court adjourned the talks after it learnt, via an RTE news report, that the ASTI executive had voted yesterday afternoon to press ahead with the strikes. The vote was eight for, six against with four abstentions.
Last night the court, in an unprecedented public rebuke to a union, said it was appalled by the decision.
The talks are now deadlocked on the issue of an "up-front" payment for teachers. As reported in The Irish Times earlier the Government is only prepared to offer a "process" that may lead to extra pay and allowances for supervision and other duties.
The package now on offer includes the following elements:
A new process which will deliver extra pay and allowances for teachers for areas like supervision, in-service training and short-term illness cover.
Representatives of all three teaching unions on the secretariat of the new benchmarking body.
A new teaching forum which will concentrate on non-pay issues but could help the ASTI make the case for fresh payments.
The court is expected to insist that any package must be put to a ballot of the 17,000 ASTI members.
The ASTI negotiating team wants a significant advance on the original Labour Court offer which they can put to a ballot. The lack of an up-front payment also creates major difficulties for the ASTI team.
A Labour Court statement released last night read: "In the course of discussions today, the Labour Court was made aware through the 6 p.m. RTE news bulletin that ASTI had decided to proceed with its three-day strike beginning March 27th, pre-empting any proposals which might emerge from the continuing court discussions.
"This action was proceeding despite the fact that both sides were involved in intensive discussions aimed at bringing the dispute to a conclusion.
"The court is appalled at this action in the current climate, particularly in view of the difficulties being caused for students with the ongoing threat to this year's exam.
"The court therefore, to proceed with its efforts to resolve this dispute, is formally calling on ASTI to defer the strike action until the process is finalised and proposals emerge from the court. The court is adjourned until 12 noon to allow ASTI to respond to the court's request."