The attacks on Catholic churches in the North on Wednesday night were strongly condemned by all sides of the House.
The Taoiseach utterly deplored what had happened. "I think it is totally inconsistent with any notion of civil and religious liberty. I would ask every responsible person in the nationalist community to ensure that there is no retaliation," Mr Ahern added.
"That would only be going down the road of those who went out last night. We have seen all that before, and I don't think we want to see it again."
He said, on the Order of Business, he would be making his remarks regardless of the denomination of the churches attacked.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr John Bruton, said the attacks on the churches were sectarian and displayed the worst features of bigotry and hatred which must be banished from the land.
"It is very inappropriate that this occurred on a day when such a hopeful sign was shown with the appointment of a First Minister and Deputy First Minister from the two communities who had pledged to work together for the interests of all."
The Labour leader, Mr Ruairi Quinn, joined in the condemnation, while the Democratic Left leader, Mr Proinsias De Rossa, said he would condemn such attacks regardless of the churches' denomination.
Mr Quinn asked if, in view of the impasse over Drumcree, the Taoiseach was going to take any action, in consultation with the British Prime Minister.
Mr Ahern said there was continuing "contact between all of us" during the night. But it would not be correct to say it was leading anywhere.
He had talked to the British Prime Minister and others to try and find some basis for moving forward. "I think everybody wants to find some basis for doing that."
Later, at Question Time, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Andrews, said he had been contacted by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Dr Mo Mowlam, earlier in the day about the Drumcree crisis. "That contact will be ongoing to bring a resolution to this particular problem."
Mr Andrews said the Government looked forward to an early meeting with the representatives of the transitional Northern Ireland Executive.