People 'have no God-given right' to build rural houses, says Minister

Planning Minister Ciaran Cuffe says there no "God given right" for people to build houses in the countryside simply because they were born there.

The Green Party TD made the comments as the Planning and Development Bill is about to be passed into law by the Seanad.

The Bill will remove some powers from local authorities, and it is expected it could result in the dezoning of thousands of acres of land back from residential to agricultural.