There is growing expectation that the British government will move today to ensure that consignments of Irish beef will be allowed to pass unhindered through UK ports.
This follows a day of intense pressure on the British authorities and telephone contact between the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair.
In addition, Britain was warned about its responsibilities under EU free-trade regulations in a letter from EU Commissioner for Agriculture Mr Franz Fischler to the British Minister for Agriculture, Dr Jack Cunningham.
During a five-minute telephone conversation, Mr Ahern expressed the Government's "serious concern" at the continuing blockade and the authorities' inability to bring the affair to an end.
A Government spokesman said the Taoiseach had "made clear precisely the views expressed in Dail Eireann and the fact that people are incensed".
He said that the Prime Minister "accepted his obligations under EU free-trade regulations and said he was attempting to resolve the issue as quickly as possible."
A spokesman for Mr Blair said his government would do everything in its power to ensure that lorry drivers were not harassed. "We cannot allow British workers to indulge in the kind of practices we have rightly been condemning the French for," said the spokesman.
The Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, went to London yesterday to meet Dr Cunningham to discuss the issue. Mr Walsh said he had impressed on Dr Cunningham the serious effect the blockades were having on the legitimate trade and that the actions being taken were illegal and contrary to the principles of the single market.
Concern about the escalating crisis and possible clashes at the ports was raised following a BBC Radio interview with Welsh Office Minister, Mr Win Griffiths, who said that Welsh police would in future ensure a safe passage for Irish lorries at ports.
But later the Welsh Office explained that Mr Griffiths did not intend his comments on the Today programme to imply a change in policy. A Welsh Office official said Mr Griffiths had meant to say he had every confidence that if the police wanted free movement of traffic then they could ensure it.
Irish hauliers and Britain's Road Haulage Association have both called for tougher action to end the disruption and Irish hauliers said they will be looking for compensation from the British government because of the dispute.
An Irish lorry driver from Clontibret, Co Monaghan, became the first person to be arrested because of the dispute. He was arrested and charged with dangerous driving at Cairnryan, near Stranraer, on Wednesday night.
Ahern tells Blair of Dail anger over Welsh blockade: page 6 Editorial Comment: page 15