Dublin Airport operator, daa, has said that new anti-drone technology is now fully operational and ready to be deployed after it received the necessary regulatory approvals.
In the first eight weeks of 2023, the airport was closed six times due to illegal drone activity, causing multiple diversions and delays to thousands of passengers.
Last month, flights were suspended at Dublin Airport for around ten minutes after a drone sighting in the vicinity of the airfield.
The airport operator purchased anti-drone technology earlier this year and trained airport fire officers on how to use it.
Following amendments to legislation by the Government earlier this summer, communications regulator, ComReg provided daa with a licence to operate the counter-drone technology.
The equipment will allow airport staff to jam frequencies, take control of a drone and land it safely.
"daa is constantly engaged in maintaining safety in relation to illegal drone operations near our airports," a daa spokesperson said.
"We acted quickly in response to the Government's direction on this matter, purchasing the counter-drone equipment and training our relevant personnel in its use within just weeks," the authority said.
"Having recently received the necessary approvals, the anti-drone technology is fully operational and available for use as and when required at Dublin Airport.
"We remind all drone users that it is illegal to operate a drone within 5km of any Irish airport," daa added.
The granting of approval for the deployment of anti-drone technology at Dublin Airport was first reported by the Irish Times.
