Legislation preparing the way for the return by paramilitaries of the bodies of the disappeared may be published within the next week or two, the Taoiseach has told the Dail.
Asked by Labour leader Mr Ruairi Quinn when the text of the Criminal Justice (Location of the Remains of Victims) Bill would be available, Mr Ahern said intensive negotiations were continuing with the UK on a text setting up a commission for the location of bodies.
The British government also hopes to have legislation in place in the next few weeks to allow for the bodies of the disappeared to be recovered, according to the North's Security Minister, Mr Adam Ingram.
Mr Ingram was yesterday in contact with the Minister for Justice, Mr O'Donoghue, to complete final details of the immunity legislation and the British-Irish treaty that will allow the IRA to identify where the bodies are buried without fear of conviction.
The Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ms Liz O'Donnell, said the two governments "will not be found wanting" in relation to putting legislation in place to "facilitate closure on this tragic matter of the disappeared".
The establishment of the new commission has been greeted with mixed feelings by one of the families of the disappeared.
Ms Helen McKendry, whose mother, Jean McConville, was abducted by republicans in 1972, said her family would "do anything" to get her mother's body back, but it was sad the two government had to get involved at all.
"We have heard the legislation will be passed by the Dail next week and by the House of Commons in a fortnight. We do not know how long it will be after that before we will actually be led to my mother's remains," she said.
Mr Billy McKinney, whose son, Brian, was abducted in west Belfast in 1978, said he was "over the moon" at the news.
"We are extremely hopeful and confident that this time, we will get our boy back", he said. "We have just bought a grave at Milltown cemetery so we can give him a proper burial."