Planning tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon has adjourned proceedings until after the general election.
The tribunal, which is investigating allegations of planning corruption in the early 1990s, was due to begin its inquiry into Quarryvale and alleged payments by developers to politicians.
Judge Alan Mahon
Tribunal chairman Judge Alan Mahon issued a short statement this morning indicating that he had decided to follow the precedent set by other tribunals and said "in light of yesterday's announcement" he would not call witnesses until after the election.
The tribunal will resume hearings on May 29 th.
There was speculation that yesterday's announcement of the election date was related to the fact that the tribunal was due to open its public inquiry today into the Quarryvale affair.
The tribunal announced before Easter that it would begin its public session on Quarryvale today and would continue to sit in public until two weeks before the election.
Mr Ahern, former partner Celia Larkin, and those known to have given him money in 1993/1994 were listed as witnesses at the tribunal.
In an interview in yesterday's Sunday Tribune,the Taoiseach indicated his unhappiness with the tribunal's plans.
"All I can say is that the precedent since the foundation of the State has been that tribunals haven't sat during an election. I am not going to comment on something that I'm personally involved in. I'm just quoting what is the precedent," he said.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said yesterday it was a matter for the tribunal to decide whether to proceed.
Speaking on RTE radio this morning, Minister for Health Mary Harney said she had to "respect and accept" Justice Mahon's decision to postpone the tribunal.
Ms Harney said that in the context of a general election campaign the move was appropriate and "in the interests of justice".
The adjournment would provide the public with the opportunity to vote in a new Government without bias, she said, rather than go to the polls in the aftermath of "an initial, one sided, one witness expression of opinion".