Louth TD Mr Fergus O'Dowd (FG), who voted against the adoption of the Dunleer Local Area Plan on Monday, yesterday called for a change in the law to prevent developers from being able to directly lobby councillors.
With his brother, Cllr Michael O'Dowd (FG), he was one of only two councillors to vote against the adoption of the final plan at the end of the lengthy meeting of Louth County Council.
At that stage, eight of the 10 councillors in the chamber voted - the other six were in favour of its adoption.
There are 24 councillors, and yesterday the chairman of the county council, Mr Nicky McCabe (FF), expressed criticism of the elected members who did not remain until the end.
He said that if they really cared about Dunleer they would have stayed.
After the meeting, the O'Dowds said that in situations where there was significant conflict between councillors and council planners, than an independent body should decide.
"My faith in the primacy of the councillors to make such a decision is shaken.
"When there is a substantial difference between what the planners propose and what the councillors want to do, there should be a third body to adjudicate," said Mr Michael O'Dowd.
However, Mr Fergus O'Dowd went a step further. He called for a change in the law so that developers could not approach councillors on matters of planning.
"I do not believe that the developers should be able to have direct contact with councillors, and if they want to put their case for rezoning large tracts of land let them put it in writing to the officials, and it will be dealt with in due process."