Government Chief Whip Tom Kitt refused to allow more time for the Dáil to consider controversial payments the Taoiseach received in the 1990s following discussion with Mr Ahern, Opposition parties claimed today.
Fine Gael and Labour today called for a special meeting of chief whips to discuss "derisory" arrangements for Dáil discussion on Mr Ahern's receipt of undeclared payments in 1993 and 1994 worth €62,000.
Coalition partners the PDs have agreed with the Opposition that Mr Ahern must reveal further details of the payments, but there has been an outcry over the terms of the disucssion set for Tuesday.
Chief whips Paul Kehoe of Fine Gael and Labour's Emmet Stagg this afternoon called on all whips to meet before Tuesday to push for more Dáil time.
The Government has allocated five minutes to five speakers to make statements with the Taoiseach making a five-minute statement at the start and end of the process.
The Government originally appeared willing to offer more time when Chief Whip Tom Kitt said in the Dáil yesterday that the terms would be agreed by consensus.
However, he later cancelled scheduled meetings with the whips to meet senior ministerial colleagues and then told his Opposition counterparts that strict arrangements were being laid down for Mr Ahern's statement.
In a joint statement today Mr Kehoe and Mr Stagg said: "What the Government is offering is, in effect, normal Dáil business plus seven five-minute statements.
"We had expected, following the intervention of the Tánaiste yesterday, that the Government would increase the time available for statements and allow a proper question-and-answer session.
"When we requested an increase in time this morning we were told by the Government Chief Whip that he had spoken to the Taoiseach and that there would be no change in the arrangements."