The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, has been severely criticised by the Fine Gael spokesman on Agriculture, Mr Billy Timmins, for refusing to meet the Irish Farmers Association on farm incomes.
The IFA had sought the meeting with the Taoiseach after their "difficult" meeting with the Minister for Agriculture and Food, Mr Walsh, a week ago to discuss farm incomes.
That meeting ran two and a half hours over the scheduled time and the IFA left the room with no promises from Mr Walsh who was reported to have played "hardball" with the delegation.
The IFA, which has come out in support of a Yes vote in the Nice Treaty, had sought help from Mr Walsh in delivering the farming vote to the Government.
However, Minister Walsh warned them that they could not link the delivery of a Yes vote with assistance to help some farmers recover from a bad harvest and had warned of the long term consequences for farming of voting No in the forthcoming referendum.
Mr Walsh has said consistently that there can be no hardship fund for farmers who have been hit by bad weather because such money is not available this year.
On Tuesday, Mr John Dillon, President of the IFA said he was seeking an urgent meeting with Mr Ahern as the meeting with Mr Walsh had failed to make progress in addressing the income crisis.
The IFA had already submitted detailed proposals to Government and he was disappointed, he said, with the lack of a response.
On Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Taoiseach said he would not be meeting with the IFA.
Speaking on RTÉ's Agriview radio programme last night, Mr Dillon denied he was snubbing Mr Walsh by seeking a meeting with the Taoiseach.
"The Minister is not the boss and could do nothing on the income issue so we asked for a meeting with the boss," he said.
"However, Mr Walsh is bringing forward payments of half a billion euro which are due to farmers and that will be some help in helping to cope with the 20 per cent drop in farm income this year," he said.
While the IFA is not getting the urgent meeting it was seeking with Mr Ahern, it is very likely he will meet them next week at the National Ploughing Championships in Co Laois.