The Government today denied Opposition claims that it is trying to intimidate the Mahon tribunal just weeks before the Taoiseach gives evidence again.
Mr Ahern appeared at the tribunal for four days in September and is due to return on December 20th and 21st to answer further questions.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny
The Government is planning to reintroduce the Tribunals of Inquiry Bill, 2005 before the Dáil. The bill aims to modernise inquiry procedures, reform the fees structure for lawyers and prevent media leaks of confidential documents.
The bill was withdrawn last year in the face of Opposition attack, but the Cabinet agreed in June to restore the new legislation to the Dáil's agenda.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny today said he regarded the timing of the reintroduction of the bill as "quite sinister" and claimed it was an attempt to intimidate the Mahon tribunal before Mr Ahern's appearance.
"There is a danger that this will be seen as intimidating a tribunal which is looking into the Taoiseach's personal finances," he said.
Labour deputy leader Joan Burton queried the purpose of the legislation because she said the Mahon tribunal plans to wind up next year, and the Moriarty tribunal is not holding more public hearings.
She added: "Many will see this as essentially a form of potential intimidation to the works of the tribunal in the context of the Taoiseach being due to appear again in the near future."
But Tánaiste Brian Cowen, who was deputising for the Taoiseach in the Dáil, dismissed the claims as "nonsense" and said the bill was on the Dáil legislative schedule for some time.
"There was no objection to it being taken next week. The contentions of the Opposition are without foundation," he said.
Separately, Fine Gael justice spokesman Charlie Flanagan said the Bill was "an underhand mechanism to allow new sanctions to be brought against certain journalists who are currently before the Tribunal".
He said a briefing note on the Bill prepared in the Department of Justice contains "a bizarre reference" to an amendment protecting those in compliance with their legal obligation to provide information to the Tribunal.
"Linked to this issue is a reference to the sanctions available under this Bill for those who hinder or obstruct the Tribunal," Mr Flanagan said.
The editor of the Irish TimesGeraldine Kennedy and its public affairs correspondent Colm Keena are appealing to the Supreme Court against an order requiring them to answer questions from the Mahon tribunal relating to the source of an article published on September 21st, 2006 about financial payments to the Taoiseach.