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Air Safety

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 April 2019

Tuesday, 2 April 2019

Ceisteanna (51)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

51. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to introduce regulation for drones; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15103/19]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the Deputy is aware, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has statutory responsibility for aviation safety regulation in Ireland, including the regulation of remotely piloted aircraft systems (drones), as provided for under  S.I. No. 563/2015 - Irish Aviation Authority (Small Unmanned Aircraft (Drones) and Rockets) Order, 2015.  To date over 10,000 drones and model aircraft have been registered. 

A key objective of regulation is to prevent unintentional misuse of drones which may lead to safety or security concerns.  Correct operation of drones offer many benefits in a wide range of economic and social areas; however misuse can be harmful. 

There are robust and effective drone management systems and procedures in place at the State airports which have proven effective in managing the response to the incursion at Dublin Airport on 21 February and in minimising the impact on schedules. Following that event, an Ad Hoc Meeting on Drones was hosted by my Department where a discussion with key stakeholders took place regarding safety, security and operational impacts of drones at airports.

As an action from the meeting, my Department and the IAA are jointly seeking to organise a symposium in May bringing together some leading international experts on drones and the relevant stakeholders in Ireland with a view to considering possible improvements to our current arrangements for managing the threat posed by drones in the aviation sector in particular.

European Union regulation in relation to the registration and operation of drones will take effect next year. More specifically, the European Aviation Safety Agency proposals for a unified set of drone rules for all EU countries were approved at the end of February and the Implementing Regulation is expected to be published in early summer 2019 and to become applicable 12 months later (June 2020). These Regulations may result in some changes to the current national legislation.

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