The Government will not make a decision on whether to allow Romanians and Bulgarians an automatic right to work here when their countries join the European Union until all other EU states open their labour markets to immigrants from newer member states, the Taoiseach has indicated.
Mr Ahern made his comments as EU officials suggested yesterday that a decision on what date Bulgaria and Romania can join the Union will be postponed.
Speaking to journalists in advance of a keynote speech on the eve of Europe Day, Mr Ahern reiterated his call for seven member states to lift work restrictions on citizens of the 10 accession states that joined the EU in May 2004.
Last week Spain, Portugal, Finland and Greece said they will join Ireland, the UK and Sweden in lifting restrictions on workers from the new EU members. The Netherlands may do so at the end of the year, while France, Belgium, Italy and Luxembourg said they would lift restrictions in sectors of the economy where they had labour shortages. Germany, Austria and Denmark have made it clear they would retain total bans.
Asked about his attitude to allowing Romanians and Bulgarians an automatic right to work in Ireland when their countries join the EU, he said the Government would "look at that carefully at the time".
"We haven't made up our minds yet and as I said recently I'd like to see the other countries doing what we did before we made up our mind on that," he said.
Both Bulgaria and Romania had been expecting a decision by the European Commission next week on whether they are ready to join the EU on January 1st, 2007. But Commission sources said yesterday that enlargement commissioner Olli Rehn is preparing to delay until the autumn a final recommendation on when the states should join.
EU sources said this would give more time to pressure both states to undertake further reforms. The Commission has become increasingly concerned about organised crime in Bulgaria and its failure to bring about reform of its judiciary.
In his speech yesterday evening at Dublin City Hall, Mr Ahern also described the European constitution as "the right choice for Europe" and "the right choice for Ireland".
Speaking to journalists, Mr Ahern said that a date would not be set for an Irish referendum on the constitution until there was clarity about the intentions of France and The Netherlands, who both rejected it. He said that even if either country decided against revisiting the constitution, elements of it would have to be progressed.
In his speech Mr Ahern also attempted to allay the fears of trade unions about the impact of market reforms within Europe. "We want to make sure that our economy remains competitive, flexible and adaptable in the face of huge international pressures," he said. "But this does not mean that we will sacrifice our fundamental social values on the altar of economic efficiency."
In a statement announcing the sixth report of the Forum on Europe had been delivered to TDs and senators, its chairman Senator Maurice Hayes said migration was a topic raised at the forum. "The number of people from abroad arriving into Ireland was not seen to be a problem...Nonetheless, fears of job displacement, and cases where the minimum wage was not paid, were highlighted," he said. He added that many were concerned at the impact of the proposed Services Directives, but many of these concerns had been addressed by the European Parliament.