Ireland is an important wintering area for these birds which breed at Arctic latitudes and migrate southwards to spend the winter on estuaries, coastal bays, rivers and lakes.

OPPOSITION by Clare County Council to the blanket designation of the Shannon estuary for protected birds has received a boost.

ARTS, Heritage and Gaeltacht Minister Jimmy Deenihan has said the Shannon estuary will not be “frozen for development” in spite of the estuary being designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) for birds.

Shell and Esso are to sell their interests in a number of joint North Sea assets, it was announced today.