Mr. Bobby Healy:

Cathaoirleach and members of the committee, it is a genuine honour to be here. I am here on behalf of Manna Air Delivery, an Irish commercial drone delivery company at the forefront of a technological revolution. Manna has become the recognised world leader in the fledgling drone industry. With the support of the Irish State, through the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund, ISIF, and Enterprise Ireland, we are expanding rapidly. We have already created more than 160 jobs in north County Dublin and we have the potential to become the next CRH, Kerry Group or Stripe. We are in the business of taking vehicles off congested, polluted and dangerous roads by moving commercial delivery to the skies. The traditional model of road delivery is not just unsustainable; it is increasingly slow and inefficient for our growing population.

We design and build autonomous electric aircraft in Glasnevin and Moorock, County Offaly. All of our research and development is conducted in Ireland and we have invested tens of millions of euro in these efforts over the past five years. Drone delivery offers a faster, greener and safer way forward while fully respecting the privacy of the communities we serve. In Dublin 15 alone, our flights have removed 3,500 kg of CO2 every month. We generate just one eighth of the CO2 of the equivalent road-based delivery.

On noise, yes, drones produce a sound that is noticeable. Leading experts in acoustics science from Trinity College Dublin assessed our aircraft and found that while cruising at 65 m, they emitted just 57 dB, quieter than a conversation, for ten seconds as they pass overhead. We have developed and tested new technology that is 40% quieter again and we are awaiting regulatory approval for full deployment. We continue to invest significantly in technology to become quieter. We foresee a future where people will barely hear drones at all.

We are fully GDPR compliant. Our drones do not store or record images or video. A small camera is used to ensure the safety of the area we deliver onto.

When concerns are raised, we listen. Since launching in March, we have done more 34,000 deliveries in Dublin 15. At the start of the year, we had 53 complaints. Entering last week, we had a total of 120 complaints in Dublin 15, with 22% of complainants being active users of our service. Every single inquiry has been addressed, often face to face, and by me personally. We are listening and not shying away. This is about jobs. We have created more than 160 high-tech, high-value jobs in Dublin - people paying their taxes in Ireland and a company investing in and paying its taxes in Ireland. We power 45 small business in the Dublin 15 area, which are thriving because they can reach customers quickly and safely.

We worked with the Dublin Fire Brigade and the National Ambulance Service to launch a defibrillator pilot in Dublin 15. As per the professor of cardiology services in the HSE, if we roll this technology out nationally, we will save 900 lives per year with it. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we saw at first hand how drone delivery can serve vulnerable and isolated members of the public. Our team worked with residents in Moneygall to safely deliver medicines and essential goods to medically vulnerable households when traditional access was limited.

We know that trust must be earned, not claimed. We welcome oversight, regulation and community conversation. This is not about replacing what is good. It is about making things better, safer, greener and more accessible and equitable for everyone. I thank members for their time and attention. I welcome questions.