A public meeting in west Dublin has heard calls to regulate the use of drones by private businesses.
The event was organised by a recently formed group called Drone Action Dublin 15 in response to the establishment of a fast-food drone delivery service in the area more than a year and a half ago.
The noise generated by the drones and concerns about privacy were among the main issues raised by residents who spoke at the meeting, which was attended by around 250 people.
Locals spoke about their annoyance at the noise of the drones, the impact they were having on young children and animals in the area and of their frustration with their dealings with the company Manna which runs the drone-delivery service in the area.
They also said the service had divided the community between those who use the service and those who object to it.
TDs and councillors from across the political spectrum addressed the meeting.
Green Party leader and local TD Roderic O'Gorman said that the Government's Drone Policy Framework, which was introduced in August, does not set out concrete timelines for the introduction of regulations, enforcement mechanisms, or noise and privacy safeguards - instead deferring key decisions to working groups and steering committees that could take years to deliver results.
Sinn Féin TD Paul Donnelly said it is "astonishing" that there is no legislation in the area and that the Minister for Justice had recently confirmed to him that while gardaí had trained members in the use of drones they are not in use because of the lack of legislative clarity, and he said the same approach should be taken to drone-delivery services.
Fine Gael TD Emer Currie said she had become aware of the issue of drones in the area since last year's election but that when she went to raise the concerns in the community she found she had "nowhere to go".
Ms Currie said there was a lack of integrated planning codes locally and that she has asked the Minister to meet the Drone Action group to discuss the issues.
People Before Profit Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said the drone-delivery service had been introduced without any consultation and that it was "absolute lunacy" that something was introduced that did not regulate the noise associated with it and that she wanted to see the Environmental Protection Agency take on this role.
Labour Councillor John Walsh said he believed the Government had facilitated the "wild west" in Dublin 15 when it came to commercial drone operations.
In a statement, Manna CEO Bobby Healy said that in just over 20 months in business in the Dublin 15 area, they have carried out more than 48,000 deliveries and that the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
He said Manna employs over 50 people in Blanchardstown and supports 47 local retailers.
He said their drones help cut traffic and emissions, ease delivery-van congestion, and make roads safer and cleaner for everyone.
He said local residents have been telling Manna that they are proud of the service, they see its benefits and that they are frustrated about the attention given to the Drone Action D15 group.
He also said he had previously asked to attend a meeting of the group and had been ignored and accused the group of spreading misinformation and of lacking transparency.
