The Taoiseach is to make a fresh push for a new social partnership deal with a major speech in Dublin this afternoon.
Mr Ahern is due to make his remarks at the official launch of the National Economic and Social Development Office. The new office incorporates the National Economic and Social Council, the National Economic and Social Forum, and the National Centre for Partnership and Performance.
It is understood he will make a number of offers to the social partners that he hopes will be seen as concessions by the Government. These include new measures to reduce the cost of insurance and to improve waste management.
However, Mr Ahern will warn groups planning to abandon the talks that organisations who opt to remain at the negotiating table will received preferential treatment in the form of high-level political engagement.
Unions across the State are due to vote in individual union ballots in the coming weeks, with the final outcome to be known at a special delegate conference of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) on March 26th.
Although all previous partnership deals have been approved by ICTU, approval is not thought to be a foregone conclusion.
The main farming organisations have not recommended the deal to their members, saying it does not adequately address their income crisis.
Members of the so-called "social and community pillar" - including the Society of St Vincent de Paul and the Simon Community - have also criticised the deal.