A total of 83 fish species and three hybrid species were recorded in Irish rivers, lakes, and estuaries last year.

The chief executive of a semi-state company yesterday claimed “a €1 billion investment that will provide 800 jobs is being held up by bureaucracy”.

LOCAL authorities in the mid-west are ‘aflutter’ over state plans to designate the entire lower Shannon estuary a special protected area for birds such as the black-tailed godwit and redshank.