The Taoiseach has warned restrictions to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth may stay in place for months - despite today's negative test results on samples from Louth and Wexford.
He also said he was "horrified" at the actions of a small group of cross-border smugglers who could have put the welfare of the beef industry in jeopardy.
Mr Ahern was in Co Louth, where he received a first-hand assessment of continuing efforts to restrict the State's only case of foot-and-mouth.
The Taoiseach then went north for talks with farm leaders and senior Department of Agriculture officials after preliminary results from Pirbright, Surrey, had indicated no new outbreaks of the disease.
A Co Louth farm, close to the one where the disease was detected last week at Proleek, and the Slaney Meats plant in Bunclody, Co Wexford, were cleared by the Pirbright experts, with the final confirmation of their findings expected next week.
Mr Ahern - who said he was on a "listening exercise" visit - was briefed on the current position by officials based in a hotel close to the border since the start of the crisis.
Afterwards, he met farmers from Carlingford, on the Cooley Peninsula and representatives of the tourist trade.
Mr Ahern said: "We will get nowhere until we contain this - I think everybody understands that. For the next number of weeks, and maybe even months, dare I say, depending on what happens in the United Kingdom, we have to continue the policy of containment.''
He said, too, that he was "horrified" that a small group of cross-border smugglers could have put the welfare of the beef industry in jeopardy.
"It is impossible for gardaí to guard every inch of the border, but the struggle against smuggling will go on", he said.
PA