Asked about UUP leader Mr David Trimble's description of the Republic as "pathetic, sectarian and mono-cultural", Mr Ahern said no one would identify that description with this State.
The Republic did not have "the Drumcrees or the Garvaghy Roads" of Northern Ireland. "Thankfully we don't have that kind of sectarian divide down here.
"We have the great growth here of multi-denominational schools. We have a multi-cultural society."
Gerry Moriarty adds: Ulster Unionist Lord Laird said he endorsed Mr Trimble's comments.
"I am living proof of the accuracy of his statement because I have been refused permission to attend this month's meeting of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body in Dublin to raise my concerns that the Irish Government is infringing the Belfast Agreement."
