The Taoiseach has described as "nonsense" reports linking the nomination of the Minister for Finance, Mr McCreevy as Ireland's next EU Commissioner with the forthcoming Cabinet reshuffle.
"It's the silly season and people have to fill columns. And usually if they can't find anything, they have to just make it up," said Mr Ahern today.
He said that Mr McCreevy was his only candidate for the job and that he had initially discussed the job with the Minister last September.
The Taoiseach added that he owed it to someone who had done so much for Ireland to offer him the best position possible.
Mr McCreevy announced his acceptance of the post last night, dramatically reversing his recent insistence that he did not want it. He said the Taoiseach had offered him the job yesterday week, and denied reports he had been put under pressure by Mr Ahern to take the job.
Mr McCreevy said today "naturally I would like to get a significant portfolio" but he admitted there was "great demand for the most popular positions".
He added that there would be "no major change in economic policy" in Ireland after his departure because the "policies have worked".
Dismissing suggestions that he was pushed out of the Cabinet into the post of Commissioner, Mr McCreevy said the Taoiseach had first offered him the position last September 30th, on his birthday.
Describing his good personal relationship with Mr Ahern, Mr McCreevy said his move was "right thing for everyone. I think it is the right thing for the party and I hope it is the right thing for me".
"I know the concerns of backbenchers but if governments were to be making decisions solely for their own supporters and what their own cumainn organisation would want, you'd get nothing ever done."
Speaking at his final European presidency engagement in the European Parliament in Strasbourg today, Mr Ahern spoke of his hopes for the outgoing Minister: "I would like to see Charlie McCreevy being in.. a substantial post".
"He has a huge capacity for work and he is highly intelligent and I think he will do a really good job. He likes Europe... He really enjoyed his period on Ecofin.
"It would be easier for me to look at the parochial decisions and to keep him by my side, where he has been for the last 10 years working with me. But I gave him the option and he has decided to take up the challenge and I know he'll make a huge success of it," Mr Ahern added.
The move to Europe by Mr McCreevy is expected to lead to the most radical reshuffle of the Taoiseach's front bench or Cabinet since Mr Ahern became party leader a decade ago.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, is now seen as the most likely successor to Mr McCreevy when the Taoiseach announces a Cabinet reshuffle, most likely in late September. Three or more new Cabinet members will probably be appointed and most Ministers likely to shift their portfolios.
Opposition politicians queried the motivation behind the nomination of Mr McCreevy as EU Commissioner and raised questions about what it might mean for Government policy.
The Fine Gael deputy leader and finance spokesman, Mr Richard Bruton, said he would question the motivation for the Taoiseach's decision. "I would like to congratulate Charlie McCreevy on his appointment as EU Commissioner and wish him well.
"However, one would have to be concerned about Ireland appointing someone who made it so clear over an extended period that he did not wish to take up the job. This does beg the question as to why the Taoiseach selected someone who has admitted a lack of interest in the post."