An abortion referendum before the next general election now appears unlikely after the Taoiseach said the Cabinet would not consider the matter until autumn at the earliest.
Mr Ahern last night ruled out early decisions on the issue during the two remaining Cabinet meetings this month and said he envisaged a long lead-in period before any were made.
Speaking to The Irish Times in Brazil, Mr Ahern said the Cabinet would not even look at the issue until after the summer break, and even then would have to have "a long chat" before reaching conclusions.
Mr Ahern said consultations would not begin until after the summer break - which casts doubt on whether a poll can be held in the autumn. He also ruled out holding an abortion poll in conjunction with a general election, which makes such a poll unlikely in advance.
The Taoiseach is believed to want freedom to call an election at the time of his choosing in the first half of next year. He is, therefore, unlikely to schedule an abortion poll during that period.
However, the Minister for Health, Mr Martin, said the ministerial sub-committee which has studied the issue for a year still aimed to report by the end of the month, subject to conditions.
Speaking after comments from the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, which suggested she had little enthusiasm for an early poll, Mr Martin said: "We have worked on this over the last couple of months and we have more or less completed our work at this stage."
Mr Ahern said he supported the Tanaiste's view that there should not be a divisive campaign. "I've said that a thousand times. That's why we have put so much effort into this and consulted as widely as we can."
He also appeared to dispute Independent TD Mr Harry Blaney's assertion that the Government had given the Independents a guarantee that it would decide by the end of this month.
He said he had instead assured Mr Blaney and the three other pro-Government Independents that he would consult them as soon as the sub-committee had reported.
Yesterday, three of the four Independents appeared divided on the timing. Both Mr Blaney and Donegal South-West TD Mr Tom Gildea pushed for an autumn referendum.
However, Kerry TD Mr Jackie Healy-Rae said the Government should make sure that it had an agreed wording for a constitutional amendment before it went to the people.
Speaking during an official visit in Brazil, Mr Ahern said: "We are still trying to finalise our work and we would like to get that done as soon as possible."
He said the Cabinet sub-committee still had "a fair bit of checking and consulting" to do before coming up with final observations.
Next week's Cabinet meeting would have "a million things on", he said, "so it will probably be after the summer break, and then we'll see where we are". Asked again if there could be a decision before the end of this month, he said: "No".
Following the sub-committee's report, the Cabinet would assess the situation. "Then we will see whether it is a runner or not, but we haven't made that decision, and we won't make that decision until we bring the final report to Cabinet and then we will have to have a long chat on it."
Describing the Tanaiste's reported remarks as "unhelpful", the Pro-Life Campaign said the public would rightly take "a cynical view" of attempts to delay a referendum "given the expectations that have been created".