The Garda Representatives Association has welcomed the Taoiseach's statement that the killers of Det Garda Jerry McCabe will not be released "on his watch".
In a statement, the GRA said hoped the matter was now closed "for once and for all".
"It is regrettable the matter should have ever entered the political arena in the first instance and used as a pawn to antagonise the Irish public and their police force," the statement added.
On Friday, Mr Ahern, firmly ruled out the early release of the men, even as part of a comprehensive deal with Sinn Féin.
He said that while the Government was prepared to consider the release of the four men as part of an agreement, this was no longer the case. The issue "won't be part" of any future discussions in relation to a deal for as long as he was Taoiseach, he said.
The four men were sentenced in 1999 to terms of up to 14 years. If granted normal remission their release dates would range from mid-2007 to 2009.
Mr Ahern has removed all ambiguity from the Government's position. Earlier this month he told the Dáil that he did not see the issue coming back on the table, but did not rule it out.
But on Friday he said: "I've made it clear that the question of the early release of the killers of Det Garda McCabe is no longer on the table. I've said that I don't see it coming back on the table, that position has now been endorsed overwhelmingly by the Dáil in its recent debates so, I think the situation as far as I'm concerned is now closed on this."
Speaking on Limerick's 95 FM radio station he said: "I attempted to try to resolve it as part of a comprehensive deal but you know the situation has changed utterly now and whatever negotiations we have in the next round and hopefully we do have, this issue won't be part of those discussions."
Asked if that meant there was now no chance of early release he said: "Not on my watch."