The Taoiseach has said there are no differences between himself and Fianna Fail back bench TD Seán Haughey following a meeting today.
Mr Haughey was aggrieved at being passed over for promotion earlier this week and has threatened to quit politics.
The Dublin North Central TD has said he will decide after Easter if he has a future in politics.
But Mr Ahern indicated tonight that the TD will continue his work for the Fianna Fail party.
"I met today with Deputy Sean Haughey," Mr Ahern said in a statement. "The meeting was amicable and helpful.
"We discussed the issues of the week and there are no differences between myself and Sean following these discussions," he said.
The son of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey had been strongly tipped for a junior ministry vacancy created by the resignation of Ivor Callely over two months ago.
Earlier the Taoiseach said it was a "tradition" that ministers who are not planning to contest the next general election step down from their ministries to "give somebody else a chance".
"I think there has been a tradition over a long number of years in Fianna Fáil governments and along with our colleagues in the Progressive Democrats, particularly in Fianna Fáil people, that if somebody is not running in the next election, and they hold ministerial office, that somewhere before the election that perhaps that they bow out and they give somebody else a chance," Mr Ahern said.
"But there's a long way to the election yet so the issue of somebody pulling out this far out is a different issue," he added.
Given her decision not to contest the next election, it is now believed in Fianna Fáil that Ms de Valera will step down some time in the summer, allowing Mr Ahern to make a new appointment to boost the party's chances in a marginal constituency in the election.
Mr Ahern was not prepared to press Ms de Valera to leave her post before the 90th anniversary celebrations of the 1916 Rising, at Easter, given her family connections, according to sources quoted in The Irish Timesthis morning.
However, once the anniversary is over and the election gets closer, a move is more likely. "As far as I'm concerned there is not a row," Mr Ahern went on to tell the radio station in an interview this morning.
Sile de Valera
Speaking about his decsion to appoint Pat "the Cope" Gallagher, Mary Wallace and John Browne to junior ministries on Tuesday, Mr Ahern said: "Naturally enough, I had this time . . . well I didn't have 50 but I certainly had 15 people looking for the one position and unfortunately when you only have one position, as you know yourself, 15 looking for it means 14 are disappointed, and that's always an unpleasant task "
Tánaiste Mary Harney said yesterday that she was sure other opportunities would arise for people who did not get promoted this time. Ms Harney said she did not think the controversy had damaged the Government.
"Obviously the appointment of a Minister of State was a matter for the Taoiseach. The Taoiseach was obliged to consult the Cabinet, and he did that on Tuesday and it was his prerogative. . . .
But I don't think it should have any impact on the Government.
"It's entirely a matter within the Fianna Fáil party as to who was chosen and that's not something I should reflect on."
Government chief whip Tom Kitt said the Taoiseach and Mr Haughey would now sit down and talk "man to man". A meeting is expected to take place next week.
Mr Ahern was speaking to Clare FM radio after reports that he was expecting Síle de Valera to step down as a Junior Minister in the Department of Education later this year.
