Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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415. To ask the Minister for Defence the extent to which he expects drones to be utilised in the future with particular reference to coastal air-sea surveillance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12129/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Defence Forces currently operate an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle System, commonly referred to as UAVs. These UAVs are, in effect, an information gathering asset which have no offensive capability. They do not carry weapons.

The UAV systems were acquired to enhance the capability of the Defence Forces to provide a low cost and low risk means to increase surveillance capabilities and intelligence gathering. The UAVs operated by the Defence Forces can provide an aerial observation capability with the provision of a live feed back to a monitoring or Command Control post.

It is in this context that the Naval Service is currently examining the usefulness of such technology to extend patrol coverage, to aid in the intercepting of drugs shipments, fisheries protection, search and rescue missions and pollution monitoring.

The ongoing research in this area is part of the policy in ensuring that modern and effective technology is available to the Defence Forces to fulfil its role both at home and overseas.