The North's First Minister, David Trimble, has congratulated the Taoiseach on the line he took with the Republican movement during the election campaign.
Following a meeting at Government Buildings which also included Deputy First Minister Mark Durkan, Mr Trimble praised the Taoiseach's stance on refusing to accept Republicans into government until the IRA was disbanded. He further suggested it was a line Northern Secretary John Reid should consider.
Mr Trimble and the Deputy First Minister, Mark Durkan also congratulated Mr Ahern on his election success, saying it provided stability for the next four or five years which would allow progress on the implementation of the Good Friday Agreement.
This was the first such meeting in Dublin between Bertie Ahern and the First and Deputy First Ministers, David Trimble and Mark Durkan. The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Brian Cowen, was also attending the meeting.
