The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has said he is coming under continuing pressure to allow his name go forward for the presidency of the European Commission but said again he has no interest in the post.
Mr Ahern also played down the prospects for a successful negotiation next month of an EU constitutional treaty by saying there was only a 50:50 chance of agreement in the run-up to the European Council meeting in mid-June.
Interviewed by RTÉ before his return from an EU-Latin America summit in Mexico, Mr Ahern also indicated that he will look within the Cabinet for a successor to Ireland's EU Commissioner, Mr David Byrne.
The Taoiseach said there was no doubt that many people wanted him to take the presidency of the Commission and certain EU leaders had raised the question with him again at the summit in Guadalajara. "Some of my colleagues said to me this weekend - how can I just rule out a financial package worth well over a million a year for five years where after five years you can walk away," he said.
"But I think you have to do things you want to do. And I have a commitment to my party, I have a commitment to the job as Taoiseach. I have a commitment to being in Ireland. I like to be in Ireland and I don't particularly want to be in Brussels."
Mr Ahern said EU leaders would be looking for a candidate who has "been around the block for a while", and "I have been around the block for a long time".
EU leaders would be looking for a person who can strive for consensus and someone who was not "in your face", he said. Such an individual would have to be able to "bring together the different areas" in Europe.
In addition, Mr Ahern indicated that the president of the European Parliament, Mr Pat Cox, was not seen as a favourite for the leadership of the Commission. While Mr Ahern said Mr Cox was still in the race he added: "I think Pat knows himself that he would be behind some of the main runners."
On the negotiation of the constitutional treaty, Mr Ahern said that "large issues" remained unresolved. "Trying to get 25 countries to agree on issues that are fairly fundamental to them is difficult," he said.
He cited Britain's sensitivity over justice and home affairs issues - "they have a different legal system to Europe" - and said the Netherlands and Germany had issues with the financial aspects of the draft treaty. "Every country has a problem with something."
He said the talks would go to the wire in the summit. "At the end the only ones that make decisions are prime ministers and they'll only make it when they're up against the clock."
Mr Ahern said he had not begun to think about who Ireland's appointee for commissioner will be. "But I mean if we're looking for somebody I'd have to say that within my Cabinet there would be top-class commissioners, there's no doubt about that."
