The Taoiseach has rejected calls for junior minister Tony Killeen to resign following revelations that he sought the early release of a murderer.
Mr Ahern said it was common for TDs to make representations on behalf of prisoners' families on humanitarian grounds.
But he added: "I can understand the upset of the family. Tony Killeen has apologised; he is looking to correct his procedures. He did not mean offence or trauma, although he understands fully the offence it has caused."
Christopher Cooney is serving life for the 1992 murder of Rob Lynch in a bar in Ennis, Co Clare.
Two letters seeking the killer's temporary release were sent from Mr Killeen's constituency office in 2003 and 2004 and were later followed up with two other representations about Cooney's early release.
Mr Killeen - TD for Clare and Minister of State for Labour Affairs - has also dismissed calls for resignation, saying he acted wholly within the political system. He also has the support of the Tánaiste and Justice Minister Michael McDowell.
Mr Ahern told RTÉ Radio that Mr Killeen would be personally contacting the Lynch family over the controversy.
"He apologised to everybody but mostly to the families concerned. He said himself there are a number of families involved, and he's directly communicating and contacting the families to give his apology and explain what happened," he said.
"Often deputies on humanitarian basis get involved in cases, but it's important, I think, in doing that people look at the full context.
Mr Ahern said Mr Killeen was extremely upset that his office was responsible for causing the Lynch family any further suffering and has made changes to procedures in his Clare constituency office to prevent it happening again.
Additional reporting PA