Dr. Ciaran Byrne:

It is to do with the licence agreement between the ESB and what was the Central Fisheries Board. The waters in the upper Shannon to which the Senator refers are covered under that agreement; the main River Shannon is not covered. The ESB retains control of the main River Shannon because that is important in the context of the water levels at Ardnacrusha. It keeps a very close watch on the water levels in Lough Ree and Lough Derg, specifically in respect of the corresponding levels at Ardnacrusha.