THE Fianna Fail leader has criticised the Government and the Industrial Development Agency for not bringing enough foreign investment to Cavan and Monaghan.
On a tour of Border counties yesterday, Mr Ahern claimed that the political will to promote them did not exist any more. He suggested that while Fianna Fail governments had brought many benefits to the region, it was now being neglected.
"The IDA has to go out and make an effort to bring to the Border counties suitable investment." It could not just go for the easy option of concentrating everything around a few big cities.
Speaking in Cavan town, he said that different Fianna Fail governments had strong ministerial representation from Border counties.
Cavan had benefited from anew hospital and relocated government offices; the Ballinamore Ballyconnell Canal had been turned into a major flagship project, and a former Fianna Fail Environment Minister, Dr Rory O'Hanlon, had substantially increased the level of road spending in the county, he said.
Mr Ahern visited Cavan town, Belturbet and Ballyconnell.