Furious exchanges took place at Kerry County Council yesterday about restrictions on planning permission in scenic areas.
The meeting heard a claim that people wishing to build a house would need to do "a DNA test and bring the results with them" to prove that they had family connections in the area to get planning permission. It was also claimed anger was at such a pitch it would not be safe for planning officials to enter certain areas.
Mr Jackie Healy-Rae TD warned the county manager, Mr Martin Nolan, that people were so angry that "there are places in this county thou dare not travel . . . you or other officials".
In response, the county manager asked him to "take the veil off the threat".
Council officials were like "the donkey of old," Mr Michael Cahill said. "The more we tell you something, the more stubborn you get."
Motions to loosen planning policy and allow ribbon development along the main Killarney-Tralee road and to increase the cluster size of houses in rural areas from five houses to seven were carried.
People would nearly need to do a DNA test to get planning permission now, Cllr Michael Healy-Rae said, "and go in with their sample".
Councillors rejected a draft policy to channel residential development in rural areas into established settlements or villages.
The council will consider a number of motions, including that "any landowner should be allowed to obtain permission for a house on a site which they could sell for the purpose of relieving financial hardships".