More than a third of oil and gas exploration companies active in Irish waters are finding it difficult to source partners to develop their licences here.

The recent discovery that humpback whale mothers and their new-born babies whisper to each other raises intriguing questions. We usually divide vocal communications into songs and calls, writes Richard Collins.

The formidable, but harmless, basking shark is one of 58 species on a new list of endangered fish in Irish waters.

International crises, no matter where they occur, drive the price of oil up and down like a yo-yo, thereby affecting the cost of living in Ireland and every country which has to buy its oil and gas on the international markets, not to mention wheelers and dealers at all levels in between.

Ireland is set to become a major focus of large international companies looking for oil, if the initial test flows from Providence Resources appraisal oil well — 50km off the Cork coast — prove to be commercial.

THERE is an estimated 10 billion barrels of gas and oil buried under Irish waters, very little of it has been found and few are prepared to look for it.

Oil and gas exploration companies are being invited to apply for new authorisations in Irish waters.