The Taoiseach has strongly defended the President after she was criticised for describing the Nice Treaty as being "pivotal" for EU enlargement. Mrs McAleese had responded in "an entirely appropriate way" to contributions made to her during a three-day visit to Greece, Mr Ahern said.
The President said yesterday she had never advised the people to vote in any particular way and would never do so. She flew home from her state visit to Greece, arriving last evening.
The controversy arose when she said in an interview with RTÉ: "Greece, like our European partners, is very anxious that the time-table would be adhered to. Clearly the passing of the Nice Treaty is pivotal to that."
It was pointed out later that the "that" referred to the timing. She also answered questions from Greek journalists on enlargement.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Cowen, who was travelling with the President, supported her and said her remarks were merely a statement of fact.
Throughout the visit, he said, the President had quite rightly said on every occasion when asked about enlargement and the Treaty that she could not comment on the outcome of the referendum.
Greece had been asking at all the discussions he had with their officials about the timing for enlargement because they had the Cyprus question and were concerned about negotiations being completed for a session.
"The President was not giving any point of view, it was a statement of fact. There is a timetable for the Treaty of Nice to be ratified and it was in that context that she made her remarks," Mr Cowen added.
In a written statement before she left Greece, Mrs McAleese said: "During this referendum campaign and in all previous cases when the Irish people had voted on any matter during my Presidency, I have never advised the people to vote in any particular way and would never do so. This is evident from any scripts or interviews I have delivered in Greece and in other EU countries and applicant countries.
"I have always stated that the outcome of this particular referendum is entirely a matter for the Irish people and cannot be predicted."
Before she left for Athens airport, the President said she had always been at pains to keep behind that particular line. "Obviously it is disappointing that people mischievously or deliberately misinterpret what is being said." The context of her remarks had been clearly set but "they had missed the context".
Green Party TD Mr John Gormley called on her "to butt out" of the Nice debate. "It is not her place to make political statements," he said.
"She knows only too well that this is not part of her constitutional role. President McAleese's statement in Greece was partisan and one hopes not part of a Government-orchestrated campaign."
The leader of the Labour Party, Mr Ruairí Quinn, shared some of the concerns about the President's comments, saying she should exercise "special caution" during the upcoming campaign.
Meanwhile, the Greens once more criticised the chief executive of the Industrial Development Authority, Mr Seán Dorgan, following his warnings about the consequences of a second No vote.
Mr Dorgan's warnings have been supported by the US Chamber of Commerce, which represents and promotes US companies based in the Republic.
Dublin Labour MEP Mr Proinsias De Rossa sharply criticised Sinn Féin and the Green Party for their attempts to "muzzle" Mr Dorgan.
"He has an important role in attracting new jobs to Ireland," Mr De Rossa said. "His knowledge about the employment consequences of a No vote needs to be heard. If there is an expert with a contrary opinion let us hear them also."