The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said today he hoped the new Iraqi interim administration would provide "a new level of cooperation" to allow the international community to resolve its differences over Iraq.
The US President George W. Bush said yesterday the "bitter divisions" on Iraq that soured relations between the US and Europe are now over.
Mr Ahern told Sky television this morning there was "no denying" the relationship between the EU and the US had been strained over the past year.
"I think people realise they are not going to change their minds about last year but people have to move on, the world must move on, and I think effective multilateral action to try to deal with the situation in Iraq is now required," he said. He said he was confident the latest United Nations resolution "allows people to do that".
"Nobody's going to change their position, nobody's going to say there wasn't a serious situation but now the international community is going to combine their efforts, abide by this resolution and move to the next phase.
"The interim Iraqi administration coming into power this week gives a new focus, a new direction, a new level of cooperation and people will move on, I feel confident of that."
He said he hoped violent opposition in Iraq can be overcome. "Hopefully, the majority of people will start moving to support the interim government."
The Taoiseach acknowledged there was "tough opposition and tough resistance".
"I don't think everything's going to change this week and there will be no more violence," he said. "I think unfortunately and regrettably we are going to see that continue for some time but hopefully people will desist from it and hopefully it will improve.
"As long as it's seen that it's genuinely an Iraqi administration with Iraqi sovereignty, with assistance from outside but not directed, I think that will be the important thing that will help to improve it over the second half of this year."