The DUP have raised legitimate concerns about the workings of the Belfast Agreement and are welcome in Dublin to discuss them, the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern said today.
He told Sky News television that issues such as accountability, stability, efficiency and effectiveness could be addressed.
"They are issues that I have no problem dealing with. I think stability is a fair enough issue for the DUP to argue about ... with four suspensions of the institutions during the course of the Agreement."
But he warned the DUP that "success brings responsibility" and said progress would have to be inclusive if the British government was to be persuaded it was worth reviving the devolved institutions.
"The election has thrown up some imponderables that we just have to now manage our way through but that is the will of the people of Northern Ireland and now the two governments have to get on with it."
"What the Irish government would like to see is that we now get into this review. It can't change fundamentals but it can deal with the operation of the last number of years of the agreement.
"Hopefully we can then move into the period ahead - we are probably talking about into January, when we can try to negotiate these items and move forward."
"I respect everybody's mandate, including the DUP, and I look forward to trying to build on the success that has been the peace process."
He also urged the IRA to go further towards disarming to counter disillusionment among unionists.
"There still is a difficulty that the IRA still exists and that the IRA have direct links, or indirect links, with Sinn Féin," he said.
"In any peace process - we see this around the world and we see it in Northern Ireland - there is never such a thing as a status quo, there is never a standstill position. You either go back or you go forward."
Speaking later on RTE radio, Mr Ahern said the elected parties would be invited by both governments to submit their observations about the workings of the Agreement as part of a review.
He said he wanted to meet the DUP and would be happy to invite them to Dublin for talks. "I'll gladly meet them with Tony Blair I'll meet them separately whatever the parties agree to."
Agencies