The Cabinet will today sign off on plans to permit the DAA - operator of Dublin Airport - to use anti-drone technology.
Operations at the airport were suspended on six occasions in the last six weeks, causing major disruption to air travel. Irish airports are currently not permitted to take down drones, and when one is sighted near the airport, they can only close their operations.
Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and Minister of State with responsibility for international transport Jack Chambers will bring a memo to Cabinet today mandating counter-drone technology.
The DAA, which operates Dublin Airport and Cork Airport on behalf of the Government, will be tasked with purchasing and operating the counter-drone technology.
After last week's flight suspension at Dublin Airport, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary called on Mr Ryan to resolve the issue or resign.
In Association with
"It's unacceptable. Three flights have been diverted to Shannon and Belfast this evening while our Minister for Transport sits on his hands doing nothing," he said.
"He will be out tomorrow telling people that he's going to have more meetings - he has had loads of meetings in the last six weeks; meanwhile, Dublin Airport is the most disrupted airport by drones in Europe."
According to a Department of Transport source, the ministers will also ask Cabinet colleagues to consider plans to conduct a wider examination of the need for counter-drone technology to protect key
State infrastructure such as other airports, energy generation and transmission facilities, Defence Forces facilities, government buildings and water infrastructure. An existing State agency will be tasked with leading this work.
"Following the decision on Tuesday [today] there will be a short period where training is undertaken and the technology is delivered to Dublin Airport. No primary legislation is required to enable its use at the airport," the source said.
Operations at Dublin Airport have been suspended on six separate occasions since late January, resulting in safety risks to aviation, diverted and delayed flights and severe disruption to passenger journeys.
"While co-ordination between DAA, An Garda Síochána, Air Traffic Control and other entities at the airport has been reviewed and enhanced and two cases are before the courts, the issue has persisted," the source said.
Speaking on RTÉ's Today With Claire Byrne Show yesterday, Mr Chambers said that no new primary legislation is required to underpin the decision.
