Fianna Fail has been accused of "abandoning" rural Ireland.

Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny confirmed he was informed Fianna Fail will not support his Rural Equality Bill.

He said: "This directly contradicts everything that party likes to say about defending rural Ireland.

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"The reality is that Fianna Fáil has abandoned rural Ireland and proof of it is how they are voting with the government against this measure which would ensure that public bodies would have to rural-proof their actions to ensure they did not adversely affect rural areas.

"Lip service is one thing. Standing up for rural Ireland is another."

(CD/LM)