Ministers will this morning approve special new technology that will down rogue drones that have become the scourge of Irish airports.
And they will go further and look at buying more disruption equipment that could also be used to target mischievous drone operators aiming their machines at power plants, army installations, water infrastructure and government buildings.
Dublin Airport has already been closed six times this year when the illegal small flying objects crossed into air lanes and became a danger to passenger flights.
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There have been strident demands from airlines and the opposition for the Government to act, with Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary accusing it of being “asleep at the wheel.”
This morning the Cabinet will approve the daa (Dublin Airport Authority) purchasing the new tech to keep the airspace above the airport clear.
The memo approving the purchase of the gear, which will cost in the region of €100,000 initially, has been worked on all weekend by Transport Minister, Eamon Ryan, and his Super Junior Minister in the department, Jack Chambers.
A senior source told the Irish Mirror last night: “Ministers Chambers and Ryan will tomorrow ask Government to approve plans to appoint the daa as the operator of counter drone technology at Dublin Airport.
“They will also ask Government colleagues to consider plans to conduct a wider examination of the need of 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 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.
“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 coordination 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.”
Last Thursday Dublin Airport confirmed yet again that flights had been suspended following further drone activity.
It followed a repeat of several similar incidents which occurred in January and February after which the daa called for tougher sanctions to those found to be operating a drone near the airport.
A Dublin Airport spokeswoman said: "Due to confirmed drone activity, flight operations at Dublin Airport have been suspended."
Previous drone activity over a fortnight in February led to significant delays and passengers missing out their flights.
Operating a drone within 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) of the airport's infrastructure and airspace is illegal, according to the Irish Aviation Authority.
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