The Taoiseach Mr Ahern has said he is confident he will be able to name a new president of the European Union's executive Commission at a special summit next Tuesday.
Speaking on RTÉ television tonight, Mr Ahern said "I'm as confident as I can be. I've put everyone on notice for the meeting on Tuesday night and I think at that, we will get agreement."
Mr Ahern stopped short of mentioning any names but EU diplomats said Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso was rapidly emerging as the most likely condender.
Ahern had earlier said he would only call a special summit of EU leaders in Brussels if he was sure there was consensus around a single candidate to replace Romano Prodi as Commission President.