I have called for the Oireachtas Transport Committee to urgently discuss commercial drone deliveries

Drones taking off from the Manna delivery base at the Blanchardstown Town Centre

Following this mornings announcement of a new deal between Manna and Deliveroo to increase drone deliveries in Dublin 15, I have written to the Chairperson of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, requesting that the Committee holds an urgent session on the use of commercial drones for delivery.

Dublin 15 and other parts of the city are seeing a rapidly increasing number of drone delivery flights, and this will only increase with today’s new deal between Manna and Deliveroo.

Absolutely, there are benefits to the commercial use of drones, but there has been no discussion of the balance of rights between the companies using them, and residents who are impacted by the disturbance they create, particularly noise.

I’ve asked that the Transport Committee, on which I sit, would hold an urgent session on the use of commercial drones for delivery. I believe that the Irish Aviation Authority, Manna, Deliveroo and officials from the Department of Transport all need to provide their input to this hearing.

Today's announcement also shows why the Minister for Transport needs to urgently publish the National Policy Framework for Drone Use. When I raised the issue of drone use in the Dail in February, the Minister said that this Policy was near completion.

The Drone Policy Framework needs to be finished and published urgently, and should cover key issues like noise pollution, safety concerns, planning issues and privacy rules, regarding the use of commercial drones.