Mr Labhras Ó Murchú (FF) told the Seanad he was worried by something he had heard lately - that An Taisce were returning membership fees to certain people "because, obviously, they did not agree with their views". This body, which had a statutory basis in legislation and was one of the prescribed bodies under the Planning Act, was now being selective about its membership.
He had been told recent reports could be substantiated "by the people who said it to me and had the membership fees returned. That has to be looked at I believe by one of the Oireachtas Committees, because it's a fundamental issue in the current debate."
Senator Ó Murchú was speaking on the problem of population decline in the context of rural development policy and actions.
The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr Ó Cuív, said one of the most pressing problems that people faced in rural Ireland was population decline.