The Irish Times

New Government guidelines require planning authorities to respect liturgical requirements in dealing with applications for alterations to the interiors of historic church buildings. The guidelines were issued by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, following a meeting last week with senior representatives of the main Christian churches which agreed on a way forward on this contentious issue. Some of the churches had complained that they were being prevented from carrying out liturgical alterations to the interiors of church buildings now listed as protected structures under the 2000 Planning Act.