Taoiseach Mr Ahern today said that multi-party talks at Stormont aimed at reviving the institutions of Northern Ireland had got off to "an excellent start".
Mr Ahern also agreed the end of February was a realistic deadline for the talks to deliver.
Elections for the Northern Ireland Assembly were due to take place in May but the process has been thrown into doubt by the suspension. Mr Ahern was speaking after a meeting of the British-Irish Council in New Lanark, Scotland to discuss social inclusion.
He said: "I had a chance this morning to talk to Paul Murphy and Brian Cowen last night and I think everybody was really happy and there was very good engagement.
"People are setting out what their views are and that's good. They're not all the same, people have different agendas, people have different concerns. But I think there's an opportunity in a round table forum of moving on that and this has been a useful week."
He added: "I hope it's the desire of everyone to see the institutions back."
He went on: "I always feel happier when we are back and engaged. We are looking at the problems and trying to find solutions to them.
"I think we all want the ultimate prize, to live in a society of peace and stability in the island of Ireland and I certainly will do my best and the Irish government will to achieve that."
Mr Ahern said the discussions on social inclusion - issues like transport, drugs, education and poverty - had been successful.
The meeting involved the Leader of the House of Commons Robin Cook, Scottish First Minister Mr Jack McConnell, Welsh First Minister Mr Rhodri Morgan and representatives from the administrations of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
Mr Ahern said: "I think it's been very useful apart from the purpose of getting all the jurisdictions meeting together and co-operating together and getting used to each other, I think there's a practical benefit and I think that's proven to be very, very successful."
Today's gathering was the fourth meeting of the British-Irish Council which was established under the Belfast Agreement in 1998.
PA