Suggestions that Fianna Fáil may contest elections in Northern Ireland are not helpful the Labour Party leader Mr Pat Rabitte claimed today.
Speaking after a round of meetings with nationalist, unionists and cross community assembly members today, Mr Rabitte said recent hints by Mr Ahern that his party could set up branches in Northern Ireland were fanciful.
The Labour leader said: "I don't think they will."
"I think the Taoiseach was off on a frolic for whatever reason maybe connected to the time of year."
"I don't think it is realistic or helpful in the present environment."
"The present position of the Labour Party is that the new constitution facilitates our establishing branches in Brussels, London, Belfast but not for the purposes of participating in elections."
During Christmas Mr Ahern said his party would consider its role on both sides of the border.
He told the Sunday Business Postthat since the Belfast Agreement "the context and the dynamic of politics on this island have changed" and Fianna Fail might have to consider becoming a 32 county party by organising in the six counties of Northern Ireland.
Currently Sinn Féin is the only party to contest elections on a north-south basis.
Last week SDLP leader Mr Mark Durkan dismissed claims that Fianna Fáil might organise, claiming it would "create a degree of distraction" and reduce the number of ministries available to nationalists in the Assembly at Stormont.
Mr Rabitte was joined at Stormont by deputy leader Ms Liz McManus, Mr Brendan Howlin and adviser Mr Fergus Finlay.
The delegation met members of the SDLP, Sinn Fein, Ulster Unionists, cross community Alliance Party, the Women's Coalition, the loyalist Progressive of Unionists and individual Assembly members from the Reverend Ian Paisley's Democratic Unionists.
The discussions centred on the current difficulties in the Northern Ireland peace process.
PA