The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, last night signalled continuing support for President Clinton, his guest in Dublin just a week ago, saying he hoped the beleaguered US leader would "get through" his present difficulties.
Mr Ahern said "With somebody like him in the White House, it's a huge plus for us. We have a big interest in seeing that he works his term through."
Mr Ahern, who was host to Mr Clinton in his office last Friday, when the President twice used the word "sorry" for the first time over the Monica Lewinsky affair, said he had realised then that his visitor was facing "a difficult period".
The Taoiseach continued: "I hope that he can successfully manage it. I think he apologised very clearly here a week ago. And he has repeated that, both to his Democratic Party colleagues and, more importantly, to the American people, so I hope he can get through it."
Referring to Mr Clinton's strong backing for the Northern Ireland peace process, Mr Ahern said that from the Irish point of view, regardless of his difficulties at home, Mr Clinton had been "enormously helpful to us".
"The encouragement he has given us all, not just in helping the Good Friday agreement on Northern Ireland, but in setting up the institutions, and his commitment to assist in economic affairs in the future will be enormously helpful."
Mr Ahern cited Mr Clinton's move to send over major business delegations to take an interest in the economy of Northern Ireland.
He declared: "With somebody like him in the White House, it's a huge plus for us. So we have a big interest in seeing that he works his term through."