By Drew Frayne
The recent rash of delivery-drone flights over Dublin 15 is now being opposed by a local community group Drone Action D15. The group was established after Ruth Coppinger TD and the Socialist Party convened a meeting on the issue. This meeting was prompted by the news that Manna Drones is collaborating with Deliveroo to massively increase the number of drone flights over Dublin 15. One resident, and member of the new group said if this expands it will be “the death of peace and quiet. No one wants an M50 in the sky.” This led to residents establishing an action group. The group is now operating on an independent basis.
The company initially launched in Balbriggan in early 2022, but moved to the Dublin 15 area following an incident where a Balbriggan resident was injured by a falling shard of a drone propeller. They have been operating in Dublin 15 since 2024.
The biggest single complaint at the first meeting of the group last month was the noise of drones and their disturbance of peace and quiet in neighbourhoods. Residents spoke of not being able to enjoy their gardens and homes; of trying to get babies and children asleep amidst drone noise; of continual disturbance while working from home; and of negative impacts on autistic and disabled people. Privacy, safety and the impact on birds and wildlife were also raised.
Campaign
The group is pushing back against the “inevitability” that new technology should be used to deliver fast food. Drone delivery can have many socially useful functions, such as emergency medical deliveries, agricultural, and land surveying uses.
The group also heard from Australian academic and activist Professor Julia Powles about experience with a successful campaign in a suburb of Canberra, against Google Wing fast food drones. Powles presented a case study in opposition to the narrative of “tech inevitability”.
The PR campaign being waged by Manna Drones is attempting to paint its expansion into D15 as an inevitable and rational use of technology. In reality, the residents opposing this are the rational and reasonable party. Why should burritos and cups of coffee have a personal air born chauffeur? There are better ways to get people a cup of coffee and food – specifically, investment in local areas and public transport so people can meet each other in the community in local establishments. More drones will only lead to people being further isolated from each other.
Nor is it the case that delivery drones are more eco-friendly, as the leaflet states: “They claim that drone deliveries are eco-friendly and reduce emissions but this is not accurate as only the last mile is counted – not everything that went before like the drone technology production or the fact many takeaways drive to the drone site.”
Drone warfare
Since being established, the group has distributed 3,000 leaflets, with thousands more being delivered in the coming weeks. The fact sheet addresses claims made by Manna regarding noise, the environment, health, and the economy – including the loss of delivery driver / rider jobs. The leaflet has had a great response so far, particularly in prompting residents to request that their house be listed as a ‘No Fly Zone’ for the drones.
The people of D15 should not be experimental test subjects for airborne fast food deliveries. Particularly with technology that is typically used, and will be further developed, for violent warfare. According to sources who’ve attended seminars and panel discussions featuring Bobby Healy, the CEO’s biggest personal interest is the military and warfare applications of drone technology. Claims that his company is committed to delivery cannot be trusted when the CEO has made such public and overt statements in support of the military industrial complex.
Further, warfare as the end game for a drone company makes financial sense, given the exponential use of these novel weapons in Gaza, Ukraine, and in deadly war zones around the world. The military drone industry is expected to grow from $16 billion in 2024 to $47 billion by 2032.
Time for community response
Ruth Coppinger TD, who convened the initial meeting, said:
“This is a wild west situation in our skies. There has been no discussion on societal or health impacts or the effect on cafes and restaurants which are already closing at a fast rate. Drone fast food delivery has been allowed with no designated body to monitor noise or listen to the community – the Irish Aviation Authority is stating they only monitor drone safety.
It’s now time for a community response. What must be understood is this is just one company – what will it be like when so many more get involved?
Manna likes to present itself as a small Irish startup. But it has raised $60 million from venture capitalists, including Coca Cola. Nobody has asked residents for any approval for the takeover of our skies by private for‑profit interests to deliver the likes of coffee and burgers.”
