The Taoiseach's defamation action against Cork businessman, Mr Denis O'Brien, now awaits a trial date to be fixed by the Circuit Court Office in Dublin.
Th date can now be fixed following the striking out today by Judge John Buckley of a motion brought on behalf of Mr Ahern for judgment in default of defence.
The action arises out of a claim by Mr O'Brien, of Ballyharoon House, Glanmire, Cork, that he had given the Fianna Fail leader £50,000.
Mr Jim O'Callaghan, counsel for Mr Ahern, had last month asked Judge Buckley to grant judgment against Mr O'Brien on the grounds that he had failed to deliver a defence to the Taoiseach's action.
Judge Buckley had adjourned the application until today to give Mr O'Brien an opportunity to file a late defence and when he was told this had been done he struck out the Taoiseach's motion for judgment and awarded costs against Mr O'Brien.
Mr Ahern commenced defamation proceedings against Mr O'Brien in August following articles in the Sunday Business Postand Irish Examinerin which an unnamed businessman was reported to have given evidence in private to the Flood Tribunal about two alleged £50,000 payments to one current and one former politician.
It is believed Mr O'Brien intends to summon Mr Justice Fergus Floodas a witness in his defence along with the Tribunal's entire legal team and key witnesses, such as the PR consultant, Mr Frank Dunlop and developer Mr Tom Gilmartin.