Drone operators could end up in court over noise pollution under new legislation tabled by the Green Party. 

Dublin West TD Roderic O’Gorman has introduced the Regulation of Drones Bill into the Oireachtas, following numerous complaints from constituents about the technology. 

On Newstalk Breakfast, he said he was not against the technology, but believes further regulation is vital. 

 “In my own Dublin West constituency, a company delivers hundreds of takeaway meals and coffees by drone every week,” he explained. 

“Look, it is convenient for some residents, but others have worries about noise, about privacy, the impact on wildlife and safety issues.

“So, the bill I'm bringing for today is an effort to regulate that commercial use of drones in the public interest.”

A drone used in a search and rescue operation. Picture by: Alamy.com.

If passed in its present form, the legislation would allow people to file complaints about noise pollution with the District Court and require planning permission for drone bases. 

It would also give local authorities the power to regulate noise from drones. 

Deputy O’Gorman described these as “some basic rules” that will help the new technology bed into Irish society. 

“We're seeing a kind of a transfer of deliveries that happen on our roads right now into the skies above our homes,” he said. 

“And we haven't had a discussion about that, we haven't said, ‘Is this a good thing or not?’ 

“It's been driven by just one company, it could be driven by more companies subsequently.” 

A drone delivering a package.Picture by: Alamy.com.

Last August, the Government launched a National Policy Framework for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, which said the Department of Transport was committed to ensuring “safe low-level airspace management for UAS operations is delivered with due consideration for cost and efficiency”. 

It is, Deputy O’Gorman believes , a “very vague” strategy. 

“In particular, the timelines for bringing in rules about usage of drones weren't there,” he said. 

“There was no clear, ‘We will, within six months or within two years, have relevant laws in place.’

“And I suppose that's what I'm trying to do today is kickstart that process, offer up an idea for some level of regulation of drone usage, make it clear that there are benefits to drones - like maybe deliveries to elderly people or someone who can't leave the home, for example. 

“There are real benefits here, but it has to be done in a regulated way.”

Main image: A drone. Picture by: Alamy.com.