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'Weeks' before Dublin Airport anti-drone technology operational - Ryan

Updated / Friday, 3 Mar 2023 21:25

It will be a number of weeks before anti-drone technology will be up and running at Dublin Airport, Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan has said.

The minister met the airport operators and other State agencies this morning following more drone disruption at the airport yesterday evening.

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Minister Ryan said equipment providers are being assessed for their effectiveness.

"There are a number of different equipment providers which we are assessing and we'll make sure that we get the right equipment.

"It will take a number of weeks. It won't be instantaneous," he said.

He said his department is working with the airport and aviation authorities to see what measures can be taken in the meantime to help prevent disruption.

Earlier, Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O'Leary said the solution to illegal drone activity at Dublin Airport is "relatively easy", as he called on Mr Ryan to implement it immediately.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Mr O'Leary said it requires Dublin Airport having the power to disable drones with specific technology.

Three flights were diverted yesterday evening after the airport suspended operations for a half an hour due to drone activity.

Flights were prevented from landing or departing between 6.27pm until 6.59pm following a confirmed drone sighting.

It is the sixth time since early January that flights have been suspended at Dublin Airport due to drone activity.

The airlines affected by the diversions have called for more action from aviation authorities and said the latest disruption was unacceptable.

Mr O'Leary said 20,000 passengers were affected by last night's disruption.

He accused Mr Ryan of sitting on his hands and said having more meetings and producing memos is not a solution.

It is time for the minister to take action or resign, he said.

"What we need today is not legislation, we need the minister to authorise Dublin Airport to spend the €100,000, buy the electronic equipment which will disable these drones when they are identified and bring them down," Mr O'Leary said.

"We need that done today. We don't need a memo to Cabinet next Tuesday. What happens if the airport is shut again Saturday or Sunday?"

Mr O'Leary said he understands Dublin Airport has sought permission from the Department of Transport to acquire anti-drone technology, but cannot get permission.

He said there is no reason why Ireland's main airport should not have this technology in place, and he called on Mr Ryan to outline his action on it by lunchtime.

"If you need legislation, pass the legislation in three or six months, but our passengers cannot wait and should not be expected to wait," he said.

"How many more disruptions at Dublin Airport will we have while waiting for Minister Ryan to pass legislation? Make a decision. Take the drones down today, tomorrow and worry about the legislation afterwards."

Read: Are 'drone effectors' the answer to Dublin Airport's problems?

Minister for Trade, Enterprise and Employment Simon Coveney has said it is completely unacceptable that any airport in Ireland has been deliberately targeted by drones to try to disrupt traffic.

Speaking in Letterkenny, Mr Coveney said if any drones were to get caught in the engine of a plane, it could have tragic consequences.

"We have to stamp this out, it's as simple as that, and that means if necessary, new legislation to increase penalties and take a much firmer stand on this issue," he said.

Aer Lingus has also called for urgent action and said there needs to be a "step change in urgency ... from the key stakeholders charged with managing this critical issue".

In a statement, the airline said the level of disruption is "concerning and unacceptable".

Daa, which operates the airport, said gardaí have been informed of the incident of a drone flying within 5km of the airport, which it said was a "reckless and illegal activity".

It has called for new legislation, harsher sentences and a State agency responsible for managing counter-drone technology.

Mr Ryan gave a "fresh commitment" to daa that the disruption would be dealt with, the media relations manager at daa has said.

Graeme McQueen told RTÉ's Today programme that the feedback from Mr Ryan was that he was "absolutely going to make something happen here that's going to correct this".

Mr Ryan will also bring a memo to Cabinet on Tuesday regarding the acquisition of anti-drone technology.

The memo will outline the preferred option for acquisition and will address the legal and regulatory framework required to bring the technology into operation.

Speaking on the same programme, Labour TD Duncan Smith said that if the minister has a memo to be agreed by Cabinet, it means they should be close to having some sort of legislation.

"So let's raise the barriers, get the green light going and get the legislation in place because the technology as we know for anti-drone technology is out there," he said.

"It is being used in other major airports. It should be used in Dublin and other Irish airports."

Mr Smith said there has been a lack of urgency around the legislation and he believes the current situation "equals an emergency".

Separately, Mr O'Leary said the number of unclaimed Ryanair vouchers arising from the pandemic is "minimal".

"We think more than 95% of the vouchers have been reclaimed. We have been very aggressive about emailing passengers, those passengers who have vouchers to get them to use them," he said.

He said the figure will not be in their end of year report as it is "too small a number".

Additional reporting Samantha Libreri

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