The Taoiseach said he had expressed views privately on the use of a photograph of the President, Mrs McAleese, in literature distributed by a Sinn Féin candidate in the North's elections, writes Michael O'Regan
Mr Ahern was replying to the Fine Gael leader, Mr Enda Kenny, who said this had never happened before.
The Taoiseach said Mr Kenny was correct in that, in the Republic, photographs with the President of the day had not been used in election literature.
"I know that throughout my career in politics such photographs have been excluded, and I think this has been a convention since the foundation of the State.
"While I think I am aware of the case the deputy has raised, I do not want to get into it.
"I have expressed views on this privately."
Mr Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (SF, Cavan-Monaghan) said: "I am not able to respond to the earlier point regarding a Sinn Féin election poster other than by saying that I have just been advised it is not a poster but an election leaflet that makes reference to a profile of the candidate, who was the recipient of a Gaisce award from the President.
"I understand this is the context in which the matter arose."
Replying to questions on the North, Mr Ahern said it would not be helpful to speculate on anything relating to the elections.
"It is essential that they take place in a positive atmosphere to enable the pro-agreement parties to outline the real progress made under their stewardships, and present their vision of a stable and inclusive partnership government over the next four years.
"There is a democratic imperative for the holding of elections, and the people have a right to pass a democratic verdict on the politicians who have represented them for the past five years and whose mandates have now expired.
"I hope the electorate will turn out in great numbers on November 26th. I do not wish to say any more on that matter."