The dispute with gardai over operating the new computer system, PULSE, was causing widespread public concern, deputies said in the Dail yesterday.
On the order of business the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, said the Government was doing all it could to seek a resolution.
Mrs Nora Owen, Fine Gael spokeswoman on justice, asked if the Taoiseach would give a commitment that policing of the State would remain uninterrupted while the gardai refused to implement PULSE.
She asked why there had not been talks with the representatives of the gardai when they knew PULSE was going to be introduced this month.
"Is he [Taoiseach] aware that because of the uncertainty there is a risk that many convictions the gardai might bring during this period, when they're back to using the quill and ink-bottle, court convictions may not stand up," Mrs Owen said.
Mr Ahern said Mrs Owen would be aware that the PULSE negotiations had been protracted and that recommendations were made which were agreed by the Garda representative groups but rejected by the members. Discussions had been ongoing and were continuing yesterday.
Mrs Owen asked the Taoiseach to assure the House and the people that there would be no gap in the policing system due to the impasse created because of the lack of administration and control by the Minister for Justice and his Department.
Could they have a commitment that policing would continue uninterrupted while the talks were going on, and that all convictions to come out of this period would stand? Mrs Owen asked.
Mr Ruairi Quinn, the Labour leader, said: "It is a matter of sufficient public concern that a statement should be made by the Minister for Justice and perhaps the services of the Labour Relations Commission or the Labour Court should be availed of sooner rather than later because of the widespread public concern about the collapse of industrial relations inside the Garda Siochana."
The Taoiseach said: "The Government is doing and continuing to do everything it possibly can to seek a resolution of this matter."
An enormous amount of State investment and taxpayers' money had gone into the PULSE system.
He said the Minister had done everything he could to implement the previous recommendations.
