The Taoiseach has called on other EU states to lift restrictions on workers from new member states as seven of the original members announced they would retain partial or total bans.
Spain, Portugal, Finland and Greece have said they will join Ireland, the UK and Sweden in lifting restrictions on workers from the new east European members. The Netherlands may do so at the end of the year.
However, as yesterday's deadline for member states to change their regulations passed, Germany, Austria and Denmark made it clear they would retain total bans.
France, Belgium, Italy and Luxembourg said they would lift restrictions in sectors of the economy where they had labour shortages.
"It has been a pity that countries have been so slow to move," Mr Ahern said yesterday.
"I'm not too sure why so many of these countries have taken such an attitude. It's not a helpful attitude, it's not part of the community spirit, as I would see it, and I think they should move on."
He was speaking at a May Day ceremony in Farmleigh in Dublin where he unveiled a sculpture marking the second anniversary of EU enlargement. Freedom of movement for workers within the EU is a central provision of the EU treaties, along with free movement of goods and capital.
However, when the new east European member states joined on May 1st, 2004 some of the original members, particularly Germany and Austria, were worried that an influx of cheap labour from the east would threaten the pay and jobs of their citizens and lead to social unrest.
This led to an agreement that for a transitional period the existing member states could restrict workers from the new member states - apart from Cyprus and Malta.
Within two years - by yesterday - they could review these restrictions. However, all restrictions have to be phased out by 2011. Spain, Portugal, Finland and Greece are now to lift all restrictions, while The Netherlands may do so at the end of this year. Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg will ease restrictions in sectors where they need workers. Germany, Denmark and Austria will retain a total bar on workers from accession states.
Mr Ahern yesterday accused some member states of taking "a fairly negative position".
He added: "We analysed this in advance of May 1st, 2004 and I thought as a goodwill gesture to the new member states coming in that we should move on that path [ of imposing no restrictions].
"Very few moved and even the ones that have now moved are doing so with restrictions. They are saying that they are fully open but they are not.
"Two years on, it hasn't created too many problems here. We have had a few people doing abuses but when you take the tens of thousands of people here it has worked well," Mr Ahern said.
"So I would hope that other countries would take a more forward attitude in the period ahead and follow the example of the few countries that have taken that position," the Taoiseach added.
Mr Ahern indicated that the Government could yet impose restrictions on workers from Romania and Bulgaria when those countries join. "We will have to eventually look at Bulgaria and Romania, but I would rather see my colleagues being a bit more advanced. They have taken a fairly negative position on it. It is good that Ireland has taken the lead, but I would like some of them to follow us."