The Government and Opposition parties are to resume discussions this morning in an attempt to reach final agreement on the format for this afternoon's Dáil debate.
However, there was still disagreement last night on the length of time that Opposition TDs will be allowed to question Mr Ahern about loans and money from businessmen and friends.
The Government has maintained that, apart from 35 minutes of statements on the matter, Mr Ahern will be available to answer Opposition questions on the issue for at least 40 minutes.
Opposition parties state that this is only 20 minutes more than the normal time allotted in the Dáil on a Tuesday afternoon for questions to Mr Ahern from Opposition leaders.
Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt was in telephone contact throughout yesterday with Opposition whips in an attempt to reach agreement on the debate.
Discussions have been ongoing since Thursday morning, when the Government indicated it would consider a special debate on the controversy.
The whips have already agreed the format of the initial part of the debate - that the Taoiseach will make an initial five-minute statement. The five Opposition party leaders will then have five-minutes each to make statements and pose questions.
Mr Ahern will then make another five-minute statement addressing the issues raised by the Opposition party leaders.
A further 21 minutes of Leader's Questions will then be available during which Labour, Fine Gael and Sinn Féin will be able to put questions to Mr Ahern.
The Government has offered another 20 minutes to allow other Opposition politicians to question Mr Ahern, but this has been rejected by Labour and Fine Gael.
They are seeking at least 30 minutes to allow for the questioning of Mr Ahern following Leaders' Questions. They had originally sought 60 minutes for an additional question-and-answer session with Mr Ahern.
Mr Kitt told Opposition whips yesterday evening that the Government was unlikely to accede to the request for additional time, but that he would put the Opposition's request to the Taoiseach Mr Ahern and Government colleagues this morning.
Fine Gael Chief Whip Paul Kehoe said Opposition parties would continue to push for extra time to question Mr Ahern, as they believed this amount of time is necessary for a proper debate.
"We're unhappy with the offer as it stands at present and we will be resuming contact in the morning," he said last night.
The debate does not set aside any debate time for the Progressive Democrats to take part in the debate or make a statement on the controversy, although the party has made clear its desire for a lengthy debate. The party's leader Michael McDowell is not expected to respond to Mr Ahern in the Dáil. A statement is instead expected following the PD parliamentary party meeting at 6pm.