The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern insisted tonight that plans for imposing sanctions on Northern Ireland parties that contravene the Belfast Agreement were both consistent with and supportive of the 1998 accord.
Commenting in the face of Sinn Féin criticism of the Government's backing for the sanctions scheme, Mr Ahern said there would be no need to resort to non-compliance regulations if there was a permanent end to paramilitary activity.
He told a meeting of the Fianna Fáil party in Co Mayo that proposals due to be advanced next month by the Irish and British governments had to take account of the sensitivities and concerns of all parties.
He also stressed the need for the plans to also provide appropriate assurance mechanisms for handling problems in the future.
Sinn Féin, whose policy-directing Ard Comhairle meets in Dublin tomorrow for the first time since this week's multi-party talks in Hillsborough, Co Down, when the sanctions scheme was supported by Mr Ahern and Prime Minister Tony Blair, has hit out at the Government for endorsing the sanction proposals.
They claim the proposals are a blatant breach of the Belfast Agreement.
Later tomorrow, Sinn Féin president, Mr Gerry Adams is due to address a party meeting in Dublin.