A frontbench Fine Gael TD has rounded on Labour Party leader Eamon Gilmore over comments he made about the Metro North project.
Mr Gilmore this morning said that if in power Labour would redo the National Development plan and "prioritise those projects likely to create the most jobs".
"Metro North would be shot back," he told Marian Finucane on RTE Radio.
Fine Gael health spokesman Dr James Reilly, a Dublin North TD, said Mr Gilmore had shown a "negative attitude" to the project which he sees as a "key transport and jobs initiative".
Dr Reilly said the project, work on which is expected to begin in April, would generate 37,000 jobs.
"The Labour Party's attitude shocks me," he said.
"They claim they will invest in jobs and critical infrastructure, but…Eamonn GIlmore said he would push back the Metro North project…Now is the time to invest in jobs in Dublin North."
The Government in July announced it would allocate some €5.7 billion for transport projects including the Metro North and Dart Underground as part of the Infrastructure Investment Priorities 2010-2016.
The Railway Procurement Agency this week said work on the long-awaited line from St Stephen's Green to Dublin airport and north Co Dublin will begin in April.