Northwest MEP Marion Harking claimed new planning guidelines being introduced by government will effectively lead to the depopulation of rural Ireland.
Minister Ciaran Cuffe announced the new legislation saying it aims to ensure that the right types of development are built in the right places at the right time.
But Ms Harkin says that its aim is to deter people from living in rural areas and encouraging the development of towns and villages instead.
She took particular exception to some comments the minister made:
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