A public consultation on policy for using drones has been initiated by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan and junior minister Jack Chambers.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), as drones are formerly known, are being introduced into the public safety and search and rescue capabilities of the Irish Coast Guard, the Department of Transport said.
They are also “delivering benefits to the public in the medical field with the transportation of medical samples between hospitals and laboratories or the delivery of prescriptions to remote areas, for example”, it says.
The department says the Government “wants to hear from the public on key issues including how to respond to concerns about the increase in the use of UAS, how to position Ireland as a potential frontrunner in this emerging sector, and how to future-proof responsible development of the industry”.
“The policy framework is coming at a time when Ireland needs to set out the vision, strategy and priorities for the development of the UAS sector, which is growing rapidly and which has many positive and potentially life-saving benefits,” Ryan said.
“It will aim to foster the industry’s growth and innovation while managing safety, security, environmental and other concerns,” he said.
“UAS presents exciting opportunities for business and the public sector to boost productivity, improve service provision, support emergency response and infrastructure safety inspections, assist search and rescue operations, create high-tech jobs and boost the economy across Ireland,” Chambers says.
Public opinion on measures to address privacy, environment, safety and security concerns is crucial to developing this framework, and I encourage the public to respond to this request for submissions,” he adds.
The closing date for participation in the public consultation is 5 pm on Friday, March 8th.
Submissions can be made online here and can also be made by email at: [email protected]