The Taoiseach is expected to meet north Dublin TD Seán Haughey next week to discuss the fallout of Mr Ahern's reshuffle of junior ministers announced on Tuesday.
Mr Haughey, who had been widely tipped for promotion from the backbenches, said yesterday he was hurt at being overlooked and was considering his future in politics.
Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt and Minister for Transport Martin Cullen both defended the Taoiseach today over the controversy surrounding the reshuffle.
Pat "the Cope" Gallagher was moved out of the Department of the Marine as part of the reshuffle after serious conflict with his senior Minister, Noel Dempsey, who is currently piloting the legislation through the Dáil.
John Browne was moved to fill Mr Gallagher's position. However, there was deep annoyance in the party about the decision to promote Meath TD Mary Wallace to replace Ivor Callely rather than a TD from Dublin.
Mr Kitt said he sympathised with Mr Haughey but said his party leader faced a "tough" decision in naming one person to fill the vacancy created by Mr Callely's resignation last December as junior transport minister.
"There were actually 50 backbenchers from which to make that choice Mr Kitt told RTÉ's Morning Ireland.
"Everybody would feel for Sean Haughey in this situation, but what the Taoiseach has to do, and let's look at it objectively if we can . . . he has to make a very difficult choice," the Chief Whip said.
"I hope Sean will stay with us. He has talked about considering his position. I look forward to his meeting with the Taoiseach and I certainly hope he will stay with us because he is very much an important part of this party."
He denied the Taoiseach was losing his touch. "This idea that because he consults, he's a sort of conciliator, that it's not a strength. I think it's a great strength," Mr Kitt said.
Mr Cullen said the Taoiseach "always does takes his time to look at these type of appointments".
"I fully support the Taoiseach in what he has done and how he has dealt with it," he told reporters.
Mr Ahern this morning confirmed he would be meeting Mr Haughey. "I'm going to meet him, I don't know when actually," he told reporters in Dublin.
A spokesman for the Taoiseach later said Mr Ahern was expected to meet Mr Haughey in the very near future, probably before the end of next week.
In the Dáil today, Tánaiste and Minister for Health Mary Harney denied an accusation by Labour Party leader Pat Rabbitte that she was personally responsibly for the decision not to appoint Mr Haughey.