Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)

Unfortunately, in Blanchardstown we have been suffering with this for more than a year and a half and nobody is listening. Manna Drone Delivery began operating in Blanchardstown and it, apparently, has 170,000 drone flights done. The plan is for 2 million. The company has now linked up with the massive multinational, Deliveroo. Let us be clear: the company is not delivering blood or medicine; it is delivering burgers and lattes for profit.

So many residents have been raising this with public representatives in the area for more than a year and a half. We raised it on the council and now it must come to the Dáil. There must be regulation. As one resident said: "This is one company: what if the skies are opened up to all companies?" At the moment, it may be only bothering a limited number of people who are losing their right to enjoy their back gardens and their right to privacy. The noise is unbelievable. As one resident said, they have absolutely no issue with drone innovation technology, but beyond the serious privacy and safety issues, the persistent drone noise is disruptive and undermines the quiet residential character of the neighbourhood. They said it adds yet another layer of stress to daily life and reflects a broader problem, namely, the growing incursion of tech companies into our communities without democratic oversight or meaningful accountability. Drone delivery of fast food and consumer goods is not a public necessity. There are other ways to get food delivered.

The environment is constantly cited as an issue, but people have a right to enjoy their environment in peace and quiet, as do wildlife. No impact has been done on this. A WhatsApp survey was done on a group of residents in Castleknock. Some 50 people answered straightaway. I have the replies. The things they talked about include the fact that there is "no consent". One person said "my elderly mother finds them very distressing"; another said there is "zero transparency or accountability"; while others referred to "the frequency of flights has noticeably increased"; "the environmental impact" and a "close encounter with a bird".

I could go on. Nobody seems to care. This Dáil has to regulate for this.

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