Dolphins take priority at new Shannon plant

Protection of dolphins and other wildlife was among the key conditions under which planning permission was recently granted for a combined heat and power plant on the Shannon Estuary.

Whether it’s the pearl mussel, wetland birds, hen harriers, snail or bats, EU law now obliges developers to have regard for nature in major new developments. This is something that some Irish people still find hard to accept, but an increasing number now appreciate the need to protect the natural world and the environment.

The Shannon Estuary is Ireland’s most important site for bottlenose dolphins. It is the only location in the country, and one of just 18 in the EU, with Special Area of Conservation (SAC) status for the species.