The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and the British Prime Minister, Mr Blair, had surprise talks on the state of the peace process in Downing Street yesterday.
A Government spokesman confirmed last night that Mr Ahern called to Downing Street while on a private visit to London.
He spoke with Mr Blair for about hour.
"They took the opportunity to take stock of the current state of the peace process," the spokesman said.
However, no further details of the meeting between both men were released.
Mr Ahern was in London to attend a meeting of an accountancy body to which he is affiliated.
While in London, senior civil servants attempted to set up telephone contact between both leaders and, when it was discovered that there was a window in Mr Blair's diary, the Taoiseach was invited to Downing Street for the meeting.
It is understood that neither leader wishes to get publicly involved in the peace process with the Mitchell review under way.
As it is not a renegotiation of the Belfast Agreement, they are being careful to take a background role while at the same time monitoring the review, a source said.