Drones are delivering more than just convenience in Ireland — they're bringing controversy, criminal innovation, and complex legal questions with them. In this podcast, Ciara Doherty explores the sharp rise in drone usage across the country — from life-saving medical deliveries and construction site surveys to drug drops in prisons and cartel-led smuggling operations.

Ciara is joined by Elaine Burke, tech journalist and host of For Tech’s Sake, and Fergal McCarthy, chief pilot with Drone Services Ireland, to unpack Ireland’s evolving relationship with drone technology.

Together they discuss the incredible potential drones offer — like transporting blood and organs, surveying dangerous environments, or slashing road closure times during urban construction — alongside the growing public unease, especially in urban areas like Dublin where drone delivery trials have faced pushback.

This episode also breaks down Ireland’s current drone laws, where the regulatory gaps lie, how privacy issues are being handled (or not), and what smarter oversight might look like in the near future.

From tech utopia to legal grey zones, this is your all-access pass to the future of Ireland’s skies.

🔗 Follow the Guests

🎧 @ForTechsSakePod — Elaine Burke’s tech podcast on X

🛠️ droneservicesireland.ie — Fergal McCarthy’s drone consultancy and operations

✉️ Got a drone story to share?

Maybe a close encounter or a delivery experience? Ciara wants to hear it — drop her a line at newstalkdaily@newstalk.com.