Newly-released texts show that Leo Varadkar then raised the issue with Simon Coveney eight days before Taoiseach Micheál Martin learned of the appointment

The Green Party is strongly opposed to building large numbers of one-off rural houses, claiming this type of development has a social and environmental cost and has contributed to the hollowing out of rural towns.

Leo Varadkar's former special advisor has been selected as Fine Gael's general secretary.