Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The Minister must have been out at Dublin Airport shooting down the drone. That is what delayed him coming here today. On a serious note, when there was traffic chaos in Gatwick Airport he said we had no reason to have any fears and that, in his opinion and on the advice available to him, this would not happen in Dublin. It is an appropriate issue to raise with the Minister today now that it has happened. Thankfully, there was only very minor disruption but the potential for much more serious disruption is there and given that we are talking about Dublin Airport today, I would like the Minister at some stage in his seven minute contribution to outline what he has done. He has convened a working group on the regulation of drones at Dublin Airport. How often has that group met? What recommendations has it brought forward to mitigate against something like this happening again because we cannot have our national airport brought to its knees by a drone that might only cost €50? Perhaps the Minister would address that.

Last night I was making the point that, unfortunately, given that there is disagreement between the residents and the DAA, any decision to change, amend or modify the existing planning conditions that have been introduced by An Bord Pleanála will revert to An Bord Pleanála. We can have full confidence in it as in the past An Bord Pleanála has acted in a very balanced manner. In respect of this section and the amendment on health, will the Minister clearly outline why he has tabled amendment No. 59, which is grouped with amendments from other colleagues, to this part of the Bill? Can we have confidence that this amendment is a direct result of what we sought on Committee Stage?

See this speech in context