The four Independents on whom the minority Coalition relies for support are not unanimous in the demand for an abortion referendum this autumn.
The Independent Kerry South TD, Mr Jackie Healy-Rae, said he was not prepared to pressure the Government until they were ready to hold the referendum.
The Taoiseach had promised the Independents he would hold a referendum on abortion before the next general election but Mr Healy-Rae believed Mr Ahern would be well advised to forget about it if they did not go back to the drawing board. "There is no sense in rushing into something. I doubt very much with the time available that it can be held in the fall of the year," he told The Irish Times.
"I would prefer them to go back to the drawing board, get an agreed wording, before going to the people. I would prefer to see them doing it right rather than rushing to the country like they did on the Nice Treaty. It was appalling down here."
In a statement yesterday, the Independent TD for Donegal South-West, Mr Tom Gildea, said he agreed with the Tanaiste that it was better to have public debate on the "pro-life" question before the proposed referendum. He thought the question should be fully debated so that the silent Christian majority who supported the "pro-life" point of view could be fully informed on the more horrific aspects of abortion on demand.
"With the technology available nowadays, the aspiration of the Tanaiste could be achieved in a matter of weeks, thereby allowing the proposed referendum on abortion to be held in late autumn," Mr Gildea said.
Ms Mildred Fox, the Independent TD for Wicklow, was unavailable for comment due to a family funeral.
Mr Harry Blaney, the Independent TD for Donegal North-East, was strongly in favour of an autumn poll. "We felt autumn time had been earmarked for a referendum on abortion - I don't know what authority she (Ms Harney) has, the Taoiseach is not in the country. I don't know who's calling the shots."
The Cabinet would meet at the end of the month to take a decision, Mr Blaney said on RTE. The Minister for Health, Mr Martin had said he would like a quick, sharp referendum, with less time for hassle. The pros and cons should be out by now.
"It was given as an undertaking to myself that there would be a referendum," Mr Blaney said. "There will be an election possibly in the spring, if not before, and no later than the June 2nd. It is difficult to see a referendum being held on the same day as an election. "I want to talk to the others (the independent TDs). I cannot say I won't be supporting the Government, there are things coming up that I could not vote against . . ."
He stated that ". .Youth Defence does not do anybody any good, but with the pro-life groups there should be no aggro, providing the wording is got right."