Earlier, the Taoiseach warned of dangerous times ahead if there is no resolution of the outstanding issues in the peace process.
Mr Ahern told reporters that negotiations over the last 12 days had been as tough and maybe tougher than any talks since the Good Friday Agreement.
If there was not a deal, he said the current situation could drift beyond the elections and he recognised that the North's political calendar meant this might extend beyond the marching season.
That would be a very dangerous situation he said; those holding up an agreement were taking what he called an incredible risk, particularly when things were going so well.
He said the Republican movement must complete the transition to the use of exclusively peaceful means. They could not remain stuck halfway as that would bring an inevitable clash between politics and the gun, he said.
Delivering the annual address to Fianna Fáil at the Easter Rising commemoration at Arbour Hill in Dublin, Mr Ahern said the issue would have to be tackled sooner or later.
In a strong appeal to the Republican movement, Mr Ahern said five years after the Good Friday Agreement, people were entitled to know the intentions of their prospective partners in the process.
IRA Statement clear says Adams
The Sinn Féin President has said what the IRA was saying to Unionists in the statement they offered the two Governments was very clear indeed.
Gerry Adams said it was unprecedented to the point that some Republicans might think the IRA have gone too far.
Speaking at a Republican Easter Commeration in Carrickmore, Co Tyrone, Mr Adams said Unionists had called for clarity and certainty from Republicans about their intentions on disarmament, but what Unionists actually wanted was a surrender.
He said what we want is for everyone to keep to their commitment and for a negotiated process of conflict resolution to be brought to completion.
However, he said that included cetainty and clarity about future Ulster Unionist Party intentions.
He also said republicans have to reach out to unionists. Winning unionists over to republicanism would not be easy but it was not impossible, he said.
Mr Adams also praised the Taoiseach, and Irish officials for playing an active role recently in continuing to try to reach a deal and persisting when others were less resilient.
