Portlaoise, 01/03/2004 (Agence Europe) - Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern has praised the benefits the cohesion policy has held for his country. On the eve of the informal regional Council of Portlaoise (EUROPE of 28 February, p.8), Mr Ahern acknowledged that the success of the Irish economy "owes much to the financial support received from Europe via structural and cohesion funds for 30 years". Ireland has received 17.2 billion since it joined, he said. The Irish Presidency is to hold a...