The Tanaiste and leader of the Progressive Democrats was questioned yesterday about Mr Thomas Gilmartin's disclosure that he had told the Taoiseach he had given £50,000 to Mr Padraig Flynn.
Ms Harney, at a Progressive Democrats convention in Castleconnell, Co Limerick, said Mr Ahern had not told her about this matter.
She said she did not wish to discuss it until she had spoken to Mr Ahern. She had spoken to him on the telephone that afternoon, "but I am not prepared to reveal what he said to me in that private conversation".
She added that Mr Padraig Flynn had not been appointed a commissioner by the present Government, "and moreover he is not a member of this Government".
"I will have to see what An Taoiseach has to say about the matter before I can discuss it. He told me that he is going to make a statement about it.
"I certainly will not discuss it with anyone until I have met the Taoiseach and have had the position clarified.
"What the Taoiseach should tell me and must tell me is whether this matter will affect the Government for, as a party in Government, we are entitled to know about all matters that affect the Government, and matters that affect the public."
Ms Harney said it was important that the tribunal should deal with all these matters and that the truth be established.
Mr Desmond O'Malley, the former PD leader, who was at the convention, said he wanted to hear what Mr Ahern had to say about yesterday's allegations.
"I believe he should speak out before the matter comes before the tribunal, which may not be able to deal with it for some months. I would assume that he would make a statement on the matter at an earlier stage, for it will have to be dealt with."
Referring to the delay in the tribunal as a result of legal interventions, he said: "You have had all this before at the beef tribunal, and it is wrong to see it all coming up again. It would appear that only the wealthy can afford this type of intervention".
Mr O'Malley ruled out any speculation that he would stand as a PD candidate in the European election.
The convention nominated five candidates for the Bruff constituency in the forthcoming local elections.
It was decided to defer nominations for the Limerick city areas because of the resignation last week of former mayor Mr Ciaran O'Hanlon, who is the second Progressive Democrats member in the city council to resign.
The other is Mr Dick Sadlier, who signalled he would be standing for Fianna Fail at the next local elections.