The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, hopes to press ahead with efforts to revive the Northern Ireland elections, despite increasingly bitter tensions within the Ulster Unionists over their role in the peace process.
The Ulster Unionist leader, Mr David Trimble, postponed the meeting he planned yesterday afternoon with Mr Ahern after three of his MPs resigned the party whip in the House of Commons.
The Government said a report yesterday that Mr Ahern had convinced the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, to proceed with elections in the autumn was "a little overly optimistic".
As Mr Trimble made it clear last night that he wanted to remove Mr Jeffrey Donaldson, the Rev Martin Smyth and Mr David Burnside from his party, the Government said that Mr Ahern was hoping to meet Mr Trimble in the next week.
The latest development occurs against the backdrop of intensive political efforts to avoid the emergence of a dangerous political vacuum during the summer.
But when asked whether the Government was concerned about the situation in the UUP, the Government spokeswoman said it would not comment on what what was an internal party matter.
Asked whether the latest developments had weakened Mr Trimble's capacity to deliver the support of his party for new elections, separate sources repeatedly evaded the question by stating that he had won the decisive Ulster Unionist Council vote against Mr Donaldson last week.
This development was welcomed last week by Mr Ahern, who had said that he looked forward to working with Mr Trimble.
As the Irish and British governments try to maintain political momentum in advance of the Loyalist marching season, Mr Ahern plans to meet on Thursday morning with the Sinn Féin president, Mr Adams.
However, it was unclear last night when Mr Ahern might meet Mr Trimble, who has convened a special meeting of the UUP executive on Thursday. He will seek at that meeting to remove Mr Donaldson and his two colleagues from the party.
It is thought that Mr Ahern is hoping that a meeting with Mr Trimble could be organised ahead of a meeting in London of the British-Irish Council next Tuesday.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, will meet on Tuesday morning with the Northern Secretary, Mr Paul Murphy.
Mr Ahern meets with Mr Blair in Downing Street after that meeting.
It is likely that he will be accompanied at the meeting by Mr Cowen and the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell.