A newspaper report today suggesting that the many ongoing tribunals in Ireland could be shut down has been denied by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern.
Mr Ahern told RTE news there was no truth to the report in The Irish Times, which said Government officials were considering curtailing or even closing down the inquiries because of their the spiralling cost.
The report quoted high-level sources saying there was still no end in sight to a number of tribunals and that the "madness can't go on, we just can't afford it".
Speaking in at 300th anniversary celebrations in St Petersburg, Russia, Mr Ahern said plans to develop new methods of public investigation were already in the pipeline and would be published in the Commission of Investigation Bill due later this year, RTE reports.
The celebrations are being attended by world leaders ahead of the Group of Eight summit in France which begins later today. US president George W Bush is hoping he can use his short trip to Europe to improve relations with EU states against the US-led attack on Iraq.
Mr Ahern today called for rapprochement and referred to defence issues, urging closer cooperation between the EU, US and China.
"We also seek closer cooperation in our efforts to build a safer and fairer world. The European Union and Russia, together with the United States and China, bear a special responsibility to work together in the common service of mankind, particularly in building a stronger, and more effective, United Nations," he said.
Mr Ahern also said Ireland will work with other EU states to "secure substantial progress in EU trade and investment arrangements".