The Government's National Forum on Europe announced after the referendum defeat of the Nice Treaty will finally begin work next Thursday, but without Fine Gael participation.
Independent Senator Maurice Hayes has agreed to chair the forum, which will hold its first meeting in Dublin Castle on October 18th.
Members of the forum will be drawn from all Oireachtas parties, except Fine Gael, and Independents.
Attempts to persuade Fine Gael to reverse the decision to boycott the forum delayed the start of proceedings from the Taoiseach's preferred date of September 20th.
The Fine Gael leader, Mr Michael Noonan, said yesterday that the party's decision remained unchanged as the terms of reference of the forum had not been altered to his party's satisfaction.
Fine Gael's refusal to participate is seen in Leinster House as a move to put pressure on the Government over perceived internal divisions on European policy.
Mr Noonan wrote to Mr Ahern last month saying the forum would be "a talking shop" at a time when the Government should be taking decisions.
Government divisions on Europe should be resolved at Cabinet, not at a parliamentary forum, he said.
The Taoiseach wrote to Mr Noonan on Wednesday this week saying Fine Gael's seven seats would remain on offer should the party change its mind.
While the forum was set up in response to the shock defeat of the Nice Treaty in June, the Government has defined its purpose as being broader than consideration of how to resolve the problems arising from the defeat.
Its purpose, according to the Government, is "to facilitate a broad discussion of issues relevant to Ireland's membership of an enlarging Union and to consider the range of topics arising in the context of the debate on the future of Europe".
The forum will seek submissions from groups and individuals beyond its membership, and may also commission a number of expert studies.
It will have an independent Secretariat headed by an Assistant Secretary at the Department of the Taoiseach, Mr Walter Kirwan.
The Government has established a "special observer pillar" to involve social partners and political organisations, some of which campaigned successfully against the Treaty.