The Taoiseach, in the section of his speech entitled "balanced regional development", said "the first thing I want to make clear today is simple but true. This is a plan for the development of the whole country, north, south, east and west. We are determined to end the regional imbalances that have disfigured modern Ireland."
The figures look very impressive. It is just eight months since the twin Fitzpatrick Reports on regional development estimated the investment bill at £22 billion.
Yet yesterday's launch of the plan announced proposals to spend £13.31 billion in the Border, Midlands and Western (BMW) Region and £27.27 billion in the Southern and Eastern (SE) region.
On the face of it, regional development never had it so good.
But when it comes to analysing what exactly the regions have got, especially the poorer BMW region, things are not so clear. The Taoiseach himself said that while in the United States it had been made plain to him that there was foreign direct investment available for Ireland. But, he added, you can't fly people into Dublin and ask them to spend five hours getting to the west of Ireland.
The regional airports have been making that point for years, but their very modest need for as little as £35 million to upgrade to passenger jet capability is not included in the plan.
In answer to a question from this reporter at yesterday's press conference in Dublin to launch the plan, Mr Ahern outlined the importance of road development to promote regional equality and balanced development. A cabinet subcommittee chaired by the Taoiseach himself will oversee the implementation of the plan and he was confident that the ambitious road development programme could be implemented in the life of the plan.
But both the Taoiseach and the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, say there is little they can do about the road projects currently before the courts. These include major roads out of Dublin to the south and the west, as well as the Dublin Port Tunnel. Small wonder then that there is some scepticism about the delivery of the ambitious programme in the plan.
In any event a quick glance at the map indicates that the five key corridors identified in it go from Dublin towards: Waterford, Cork, Limerick, up the east coast to the Border and to Galway. If the roads are of prime importance, as the Taoiseach indicated that they were, why does the north-west not feature?
Another concern relates to regional devolution.
The impression given by the three national operational programmes, compared to the two regional programmes, indicates that power will remain firmly in Dublin. And what then of the new regional assemblies? Their most memorable aspect may be their European designation: "Nuts II".