The Taoiseach welcomed the offer by the Bishop of Derry, Dr Seamus Hegarty, to intervene in the IRA decommissioning deadlock.
Mr Ahern said Dr Hegarty had been continually helpful in the Northern peace process. "I have discussed the matter with him on several occasions and anything he or his fellow church leaders in Northern Ireland can do is always helpful. If his offer is in any way helpful, it will be useful."
He was replying to the Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, who asked if he supported Dr Hegarty's offer.
Mr Bruton said after all armed conflicts, victors, as well as those who had not been victors, decommissioned.
"After the second World War, vast quantities of arms were decommissioned by those who had won that war. There is no equivalence between decommissioning weapons and defeat or victory."
Asked by Mr Bruton if Dail legislation relating to the suspension of the institutions by Westminster would be required, the Taoiseach said he had not examined that matter.
"Deputy Bruton is aware that some legal issues will arise regarding how the matter will be dealt with. I have taken legal advice on the current legislation and there are clearly some difficulties in that area. I have asked for some of those issues to be looked at and later in the week things may be clearer. If I have information, I will be happy to give it to leaders of Opposition parties."
Mr Bruton said the House of Commons had passed its legislation and a time issue was involved. While he hoped that it would not be necessary, the passing of legislation by the Dail would require additional sitting days this week.
Mr Ahern said he had no proposal to rush legislation through the House. "I will examine the implications of what is happening."
Mr Bruton asked if there was a possibility of legal action being taken on the basis that what was being done was illegal. The institutions in question did not merely apply to the UK jurisdiction, but to the whole island of Ireland and to the State.
Mr Ahern said that was the point to which he referred. "The UK has jurisdiction over their institutions but we have an involvement with the North-South institutions. That is what I will look at."
