The Taoiseach publicly sought to play down the significance of the South Antrim by-election result yesterday, despite fears that it might threaten Mr David Trimble and the Belfast Agreement.
Mr Ahern maintained that he did not see how Mr McCrea's victory could affect the political situation, saying the agreement was "far stronger than any by-election anywhere".
However, there was concern that the result would make it difficult for the Government and Northern nationalists to seek the full implementation of the Patten recommendations in the Police Bill. There are fears that unionists will use this to persuade the British government not to make concessions on policing.
Mr Ahern said he hoped Mr Trimble would "continue on with the strength and the leadership that he has shown". "A by-election in any individual place, as far as we are concerned, has nothing to do with what is an agreement negotiated between the governments and all the pro-agreement parties," he said.