Marie Sherlock (Dublin Central, Labour)

When will the Government publish the long-awaited policy framework on the use of commercial drones in this country? It was due in 2023. It is now 2025 and we still have nothing. All the while, Government Ministers, when abroad on trade missions, have been promoting Ireland as a destination for unmanned aircraft or drones. Of course, drones can have a positive impact, particularly in the area of health, but there is a reality that communities are crying out for some sort of protection. All the while the Government has been stalling on introducing that policy, while inviting companies into the likes of Blanchardstown and Glasnevin, the communities the Minister and I represent, and treating them like guinea pigs.

I submitted a freedom of information, FOI, request for some of the briefing notes that the Minister got in his time in the Department of Transport and elsewhere. Those notes described Ireland as a prime unmanned aircraft system, UAS, testing environment. They state that Ireland has the edge of an uncluttered airspace. I could go on. When will the Government finally publish the policy framework for unmanned commercial drones in this country?

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