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The Minister for Transport, Sport and Tourism Shane Ross, T.D. has called a special meeting of the National Civil Aviation Threat and Risk Group for tomorrow (Thursday 10 January 2018) to assess and advise him on the recent incidents at UK airports involving possible drone activity and the implications for Irish airports. The Group - which will be chaired by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport – involves the Irish Aviation Authority, the State airports, Irish airlines, the Departments of Justice and Foreign Affairs, An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces. Should there be any further steps required to improve how the State can respond to the threat of future illegal drone activity around Irish airports, the Minister will take appropriate action.

Speaking further on the matter, the Minister said: “There are already strict rules in Ireland around the use of drones, including an exclusion zone of 5 kilometres around airports. The misuse of drones is an offence, and flying drones in controlled Irish airspace or within 5 kilometres of an airport is a very serious matter. I have asked my Department to convene at short notice a special meeting of an expert industry group to assess recent events and advise me on how we are prepared at our own airports and whether there are further things which can be done.”