The brother of Kenneth Bigley, the British hostage being held in Iraq, today said he hoped the family's Irish links could in some way lead to his release.
Mr Paul Bigley, whose mother is from Dublin, appealed to the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to try to "bring this situation to a pleasant conclusion".
The militants holding Mr Bigley have threatened to behead him if women prisoners in US custody in Iraq are not released. They have already executed two American men taken hostage with Mr Bigley.
In a statement this afternoon, Mr Ahern said: "The situation facing Mr Bigley and his family is deeply disturbing and his thoughts and prayers were with them at this time.
"I am sure that the British authorities are doing every thing in their power to secure the release of Mr Bigley. It is my sincere hope that those efforts prove successful," he added.
Labour Party spokesman on foreign affairs, Mr Michael D. Higgins TD said "no cause is advanced by the execution of Mr Ken Bigley".
Mr Higgins appealed for his life to be spared.
He offered his services as a mediator saying "If the issue is the establishment of how many Iraqi women are held in custody, and should this matter not be capable of verification by the International Red Cross, an international group should investigate the situation immediately and if such required volunteers, then I would be willing to participate.