Bill to regulate drone surveillance lodged

The Regulation of Drones Bill 2016, introduced by Senator Feargal Quinn, will proceed to a second stage debate on Tuesday.

Mr Quinn told senators that his bill would “regulate the use of drones having due regard for public safety, the privacy rights of individuals including rights of privacy attaching to the ownership of private property and for that purpose to provide for a system of registration and licensing which is dependent upon the power of the drone”.

Drone owners would be expected to take a knowledge test in order to operate drones of a certain size and obligated to take out insurance.

Other provisions include a license plate system for drones, a drone reporting service, laws to provide for the seizure of drones, and the establishment of a working group to develop new policy relating to the commercial use of drones.