The Government is unwilling to unveil its plans for the next round of EU structural funds because many urban black-spots would be created, the Labour Party leader has claimed. Mr Ruairi Quinn instanced Cork, where a by-election to fill the seat left vacant by the late Mr Hugh Coveney, will be contested next Friday.
Mr Quinn was speaking at a conference in Cork on structural funds in Europe as the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, canvassed the Cork South Central constituency with Ms Sinead Behan, the Fianna Fail candidate.
Mr Quinn said it was unclear how the Government intended to pursue regionalisation. The Government's thinking was to divide the State into regions to maximise EU funds for certain areas. "The public is in the dark and debate on this issue has been completely restricted in the Dail. In fact, the Taoiseach has indicated that the debate as to how Ireland should present itself for the purpose of applying for the next round of structural and cohesion funds has already taken place in the Dail.
"But I beg to differ and still wish to ask this Government some serious questions. If we go to Europe with proposals for regionalisation, what will this mean for the other funding from the EU which is targeted at tackling social exclusion, like funding for area-based partnerships?"
If a line was drawn down the centre of the State, as was apparently being proposed, urban areas of high unemployment, next door to regions seen as affluent - Knocknaheeney in Cork being an example - might lose out even further, Mr Quinn said.
Having failed to engage in a national debate on the issue, the Labour Party could only conclude that the Coalition did not wish to muddy the waters before Friday's poll in Cork.
In reply, the Taoiseach said he had had a fruitful meeting with EU Commissioner Ms Monika Wulf-Mathies.
He had not detailed the Government's ultimate proposals on regionalisation but had indicated that a document would be before the Commission by next March. Ms Wulf-Mathies said she had learned from her visit to Ireland that regionalisation was hotly debated here but it was not for her or the Commission to comment on such matters until the Government had presented its paper. In any event, how a member-state drew up its proposals was for it to consider.
"I'm involved in the preparation of a national strategic plan - I would prefer if the Labour Party made more constructive comments," Mr Ahern said.