Ireland is to admit one of the 13 Palestinian militants exiled as part of the settlement that ended the Israeli siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern confirmed to ireland.comthis afternoon that one of the freed militants would be accepted by Ireland as part of a deal worked out by Israel, the EU and the US.
"We’re joining with several other countries in assisting them in making sure that these prisoners, who have been under duress from the Israelis for such a long period of time, are going to get safe passage.
"They will be taken by different countries, European countries, Canada, elsewhere. This agreement was worked out with the United States, the European Union, the Israelis," he said.
Fine Gael Foreign Affairs spokesman Mr Jim O'Keeffe welcomed the news saying Ireland had to play its part and accept exiles.
"This will go some way to making up for the government's poor record on this issue, which has been characterised up to now by silence and lack of action," he said.
EU spokeswoman Ms Anna Rodriguez confirmed today that six countries had voluntarily agreed to take in the militants.
She said: "No decision has been made on how many each country will get. Once we have a solution they can be moved from Cyprus."
Ireland, along with Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal and Belgium have agreed to take one of the men.
The group was due to leave Cyprus on Wednesday though this timetable is open to change after a meeting of EU Foreign Affirs ministers today decided to give more time for their respective ambassadors or permanent representatives to establish "modalities" for the transfer of the militants.
Earlier today, it was confirmed the Government had received an approach from the current Spanish presidency of the EU to see whether Ireland would accept any of the militants, currently confined to a hotel near Larnaca.
The 13 men were taken from the Church of the Nativity to Cyprus on Friday under a deal backed by the EU, the US and the Vatican. Another 26 were sent to the Gaza Strip.
Twelve of the men in Cyprus were described by EU officials as free men, not prisoners or detainees. They have been housed at a seaside hotel near Larnaca. The 13th militant is in hospital in Larnaca with a broken leg.
200 Palestinians, including several dozen gunmen, ran into the Church of the Nativity on April 2nd to flee advancing Israeli troops.
Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres said on Saturday that the 13 are "engaged in terror and killing" and urged the EU to keep an eye on them.
He said: "So we presume that the countries that will give shelter to those people will do the necessary things so they will not create some troubles or cause some harm."
Israel has also warned the country reserves the right to demand the extradition of the militants.
Additional reporting PA