The Taoiseach said yesterday that he "totally agreed" with the weekend comments by the President, Mrs McAleese, that higher values had to be established to counter the corruption within Irish society.
President McAleese, speaking at St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin, said the "sordid side of the country's secret life" was now under the spotlight.
Mr Ahern - in Derry for the launch of the Aer Arann DerryDublin air service - said the various tribunals of inquiry were dealing with issues which happened in the past.
"We have a job to do at present, such as to help regions like the north-west to see if we can bring prosperity and see that a whole generation of people can work, possibly in their own areas . . .
"There is nothing I can do about what happened in the past other than investigate it and make sure we learn lessons for the future."
The full text of the President's speech is available at the Irish Times website: www.ireland.com