The Taoiseach has defended the citizenship referendum as a "modest and sensible" proposal and has called for a 'Yes' vote in the poll on Friday.
In a statement, Mr Ahern asked the electorate to vote 'Yes' to protect the integrity of Irish citizenship.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern
"Every other European country decides who is entitled to citizenship of its state. In no other European country does birth make that right automatic," Mr Ahern said.
He said that because Ireland is unique in the EU in granting an automatic right to citizenship at birth, there is clearly a "pull" factor towards Ireland.
"Women are prepared to travel to Ireland in the late stages of pregnancy to get around the immigration provisions of our partners in the new enlarged Europe, as well as Ireland. They are prepared to travel here to give birth even though they have no relationship with our country, and indeed may not even wish to live here," he said.
He said the Chen case, where a Chinese national was advised to travel to Belfast to give birth there so that her child would automatically acquire Irish and EU citizenship, illustrated the point.
The Taoiseach, Mr Bertie Ahern
"In bringing forward this modest and sensible proposal to address an existing loophole in our laws, I want to emphasise that Ireland is, and wants to remain, an open and a welcoming society.
"The proposed constitutional amendment will, if passed by the people, allow the Government to enact legislation that will ensure that Ireland continues to have a liberal and welcoming policy towards non-nationals who wish to come to work and live in Ireland. As I have already outlined, legislation will provide for citizenship to the Irish born child of non-nationals if just one of the parents have been legally resident in Ireland for three of the previous four years."
Mr Ahern said the referendum had "nothing to do with race". "It is about residency. It will not change the rights of Irish citizens or their children. It in no way affects the human rights of any person who is resident in Ireland. It is a common sense, limited change to protect Irish citizenship for the future."
The Taoiseach's statement was issued as he left Ireland for the G8 summit in the US.