Major public debate on draining of River Shannon

A major debate on flooding and draining of the Shannon will take place in Athlone Institute of Technology next week during an environmental conference.

AIT is hosting the 27th Environ conference from Monday next, April 10 to Wednesday, April 12. 

The conference, The Irish Environmental Researcher’s Colloquium, is the largest annual gathering of environmental researchers in Ireland, which regularly attracting in the region of 300 delegates.

This year’s colloquium is organised by the Environmental Sciences Association of Ireland (ESAI) and the Faculty of Science and Health at the Athlone Institute of Technology. At the colloquium some 100 oral papers and 80 scientific posters will be presented on various environmental topics.

The theme of this year’s event is “Putting the Eco in the Economy” and the Conference will open on Monday evening next with a public engagement debate on the topic of ‘Draining the Shannon’.

This structured debate will be addressed by Sean Canney, Minister for the OPW and Flood Relief, Tom Browne, ESB, Dr Ciaran Kelly Inland Fisheries Ireland, Sinead O’Brien, Sustainable Water Network (SWAN) and Michael Silke, IFA. There will also be a question and answer session.