The Taoiseach last night stood over his comments about the British Government being "out of the equation" on the future of Northern Ireland as a result of the Belfast Agreement.
In a wide-ranging interview on RTE's The Late Late Show, Mr Ahern also said he still admired Mr Charles Haughey for the "huge contribution" he had made to the country.
Asked about his controversial comments about the British being out of the equation, Mr Ahern replied: "Well they are". He said the only thing he would do in relation to the agreement was "stick to the facts"; he would not try to oversell or undersell it.
The fact of the matter was that no British government or parliament would decide whether the North would retain its link with the Union or join a united Ireland. "That decision will be made in an act of self-determination, on the basis of consent from now on. It will not be made in the House of Lords or the House of Commons or anywhere else, and that is a major step forward."
Asked if he would be prepared to meet Mr Haughey, the Taoiseach said: "Oh yes . . . I've great admiration for Charlie Haughey. He's in trouble over some things but he's had a huge contribution to this country."
The International Financial Services Centre was Mr Haughey's vision, he said, while Temple Bar was destined to be a bus station until the former Taoiseach "changed that". Wrongdoing could not be condoned but "he is still a person I admire".
Mr Ahern said he did not know whether he would seek a divorce from his wife in the future. He had a "great relationship" with Ms Celia Larkin who had been his partner for a long time. He would take everybody's views into account, including those of his children, before making a decision of that nature.
