A PSNI union representative has urged the Taoiseach to intervene in a dispute over the reduction of police numbers in the North as required under the Patten report.
Members of the Police Federation put their case to Mr Ahern during a 40-minute meeting in Dublin today.
They have accused the SDLP's Alex Attwood of "plotting" their disbandment for political reasons and have now called on the Taoiseach to intervene in a bid to stop the planned reduction.
Terry Spence, Federation Secretary
Under the Patten reform proposals the 1,600 men and women are set to go over an 18-month period starting next April, based on a security assessment from chief constable Hugh Orde later this year.
Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny and Labour chief Pat Rabbite were briefed during a speech to TDs last night.
Mr Terry Spence, federation secretary, told them: "Our fear is that the full-time reserve will be sacrificed for political expediency so that one particular political party can claim it has achieved a further implementation of Patten.
"We invite you all to exert what pressure you can on the British Government to ensure that the chief constable is not politically pressured in his professional judgement."
"The only impetus to phasing out the Full-Time Reserve is coming from the SDLP and from Alex Attwood in particular," Mr Spence claimed.
"Everyone else from the Independent Monitoring Commission to the Oversight Commissioner recognises they are playing an essential role in day to day policing."
Although Mr Attwood accepted his party wanted to see the reserves abolished, he insisted the scheme was approved by the full Policing Board on which he sits.
The West Belfast MLA said union representatives had ignored the wishes of hundreds of its members who want to leave the PSNI. Instead, they have stalled on negotiations with the British government over what redundancy packages will be on offer, he said.
"I would suggest the Police Federation should begin listening to all of their members. Many of them are saying to the SDLP that they want to go." He added: "Patten said that there should be a complement of 7,500 officers."
PA