Mr Jose Manuel Barroso, President-designate of the European Commission, has said he "fully trusts" his nominated commission, although he has refused to comment on whether the controversial Italian nominee will go on to be a member of his cabinet.
Mr Barroso said he believes the appointed cabinet deserves the "full support" of the European Parliament.
Speaking in Dublin following a meeting with the Taoiseach, Mr Barroso told reporters he had been asked by the European Parliament not to make any specific comment on any specific commissioner before discussing the issue with the parliament later this week.
Mr Rocco Buttiglione, who has been nominated for the Justice and Home Affairs portfolio in Europe, has come under fire for his recent comments on gay marriage, on women and on single mothers.
The commissioner-designate, who is a devout Catholic, recently said he did not "see the sense" in gay marriage.
"Marriage is a protection for the mother. Where there is no mother, there is no marriage. Besides, gay marriages are seldom stable. AIDS is so widespread because homosexuals are animated by a tendency to infidelity," the Corriere della Serranewspaper quoted him as saying.
Last weekend, Mr Buttiglione was quoted in the Italian media as saying that children who did not have a father but only a mother, were children of a mother "who is not very good".
Mr Barroso has previously defended his new commissioner, saying he does not believe that some of his ideas, which are "based on deep religious faith", represent an impediment to his appointment.
However, the Commission president faces a tough meeting with the leaders of the European Parliament's political groups this Thursday. Most are threatening to reject the entire incoming Commission cabinet unless Mr Buttiglione is moved to a different job.
Speaking at Government Buildings following his short meeting with the Taoiseach this evening, Mr Barroso refused to make any comment on Mr Buttiglione's nomination or on whether he believed his nominated commission would include him.
Mr Barroso said he had "great respect" for the European Parliament and that was why he had no wish to discuss the issue until he had met with the parliament groups this Thursday.
He had received "letters" from the parliament asking him not to make any specific comments on any specific commissioner, he said.
However, Mr Barroso did say "fully trusts" his nominated commission.
"I really believe this commission deserves the full support of the European Parliament," he said.
On other matters, the Taoiseach assured Mr Barroso of the support "at all times" of the Irish Government and the Irish people in his new role.
Among the issues discussed at this evening's meeting were the economy, employment and the future of Europe, from a financial perspective and from the point of view of the union's ongoing enlargement.
The Taoiseach and President-designate also discussed the EU constitutional treaty and on how best to explain the issues contained in it to citizens of the European Union, Mr Ahern said.
"I think this is going to be an important issue, because the constitution has important benefits for all our people," the Taoiseach said.
Mr Barroso welcomed the opportunity to meet his "very good friend", the Taoiseach, and that he placed great value on Mr Ahern's opinion.
Ireland had, he said, been responsible for one of the most successful ever presidencies of the European Union.
Mr Barroso noted there were "some challenging tasks ahead" for the EU, but he believed the Commission could be "a catalyst for change and reform".