The Taoiseach told the Dáil today he was "looking forward" to appearing at the Mahon tribunal investigating planning corruption in Dublin.
Mr Ahern was restricted from answering questions relating to recent evidence at the tribunal by the Ceann Comhairle, but when asked if he anticipated attending the hearings he said: "I hope so, I have been looking forward to it for five-and-a-half years."
Property developer Mr Tom Gilmartin told the Mahon tribunal yesterday that Mr Ahern was among a number of Fianna Fáil ministers at a meeting with him in Leinster House in February 1989. Mr Ahern maintains he has no recollection of the meeting.
Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny told the House today that Mr Ahern should immediately address the claims in the Dáil chamber.
"I don't think it is right that the Taoiseach of the country should have to wait for an indeterminable period of time to go down to a tribunal to say 'no I wasn't there," he said.
"If the Taoieach knows he wasn't at the meeting in question then I think he should be free to say so," he added.
Ceann Comhairle Dr Rory O'Hanlon said the Taoiseach would himself be out of order if he were to start a debate on the issue.
Questioned this morning by reporters about the Mahon tribunal revelations, the Tánaiste, Ms Harney, refused to comment, saying it would be "foolish and improper".
"I'm not going to comment on the Mahon tribunal. I haven't been following it," she told media outside Government Buildings in Dublin. "The tribunal has been given a very specific remit by the Oireachtas to conduct an inquiry and report and it would be improper of me to comment on evidence before that," she added.
She said she had learned from "my mistakes in the past" not to comment on evidence before the tribunal.
A criminal charge against former taoiseach Mr Charles Haughey, of having obstructed the McCracken tribunal, were deferred indefinately in July 2000, largely because of the comments by Ms Harney, who said Mr Haughey should be jailed.