Planning regulator rejects TD's 'Stalinist' jibe 

Independent TD Verona Murphy accused the Office of the Planning Regulator of 'Stalinist' policies, a charge flatly rejected by the body's chief executive Niall Cussen. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

The head of Ireland’s planning regulator has dismissed as “unhelpful and inaccurate” accusations suggesting its approach is “an assault on rural democracy”.

Niall Cussen, chief executive of the Office of the Planning Regulator, said such accusations seem to be “harking back to a previous and darker era of planning in this country”.