The Government has said it remains fully committed to regionalisation. This is despite the decision by Brussels not to allow Ireland to divide the country into two regions for sharing out European Union structural funds because of the inclusion of Counties Clare and Kerry.
However, the Taoiseach has told the Dáil that contacts are ongoing. The Government is stressing that it does not consider the decision by the EU's Eurostat to be the end of the matter. The government said that it would seek a meeting with Eurostat and that the Taoiseach would be raising the issue with the President of the EU Commission when he meets him in Brussels next week.
The Opposition parties say the Coalition has mishandled the issue. Fine Gael Finance Spokesman, Michael Noonan, said that while he regretted the news, he was not surprised by it. He said that the Government's case was always based on sand.
Two Irish MEPs, Pat The Cope Gallagher and Joe McCartan, have urged the Government to drop Kerry and Clare from the application and to re-enter negotiations.
