TIME TO SEND IN THE DRONES
Use flying loudhailers to disperse crowds: FF
FIANNA Fáil says the answer to the reckless crowds gathering, despite Covid-19 warnings, is drone control.
The party believes such technology can be used to survey the packed areas and send people home.
Countries such as China have already used such tactics to force unruly socialisers into their homes.
Fianna Fáil’s technology spokesman, James Lawless, said drones could survey the number of people gathering in public spaces so that gardaí could take action sooner to close roads or car parks.
Drones with inbuilt audio equipment and loudspeakers could relay warnings to the crowds to disperse. Gardaí were frustrated at the weekend when large crowds gathered in public spaces where social distancing was not possible due to the large numbers.
‘I understand this is something which we would not ordinarily be calling for, the flying of drones above people has both safety and GDPR [General Data Protection Regulation] ramifications, but these are extraordinary times and they call for extraordinary measures,’ Mr Lawless said.
He added that the technology had already proven ‘highly effective’ for local authorities tackling rubbish dumpers.
‘They could loan these drones to their local gardaí who can use them to find out where crowds are starting to gather, and disperse them before the crowd gets too large,’ he said.
‘In other countries, drones are being used as loudspeakers, urging people to maintain a safe distance and discouraging travel. It is only natural for people to want to go outside in the good weather, but the belief that they are safe in the open air is completely cancelled out when hundreds gather in the same place,.
‘I has to be discouraged in any way possible.’
And, speaking ahead of a briefing of party leaders by Taoiseach Leo Varakdar yesterday, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin called for ‘greater restrictions’ – but resisted calling for lockdown.
He said: ‘I think certainly where we have large numbers gathering, for example, at beaches or at particular wellknown resorts, that that should stop. I think there are other mechanisms [apart from closure] perhaps that could be deployed to make sure people don’t gather and that people keep their physical distance.
‘And I think it’s fair to say some of the concepts like social distancing are new concepts that people weren’t familiar with. So I think it’s important to double down in terms of the messaging, but I heard a GP this morning, I think he used a more accurate phrase: “physical distancing” from people.’
Mr Martin said the prospect of a full-scale lockdown, whereby people are strictly confined to their homes, was ‘problematic’ – but added that ‘we will take cognisance of the public health advice that will be coming in relation to that’.
The Taoiseach yesterday said there were no plans to introduce a lockdown and added that the Government’s plan was to follow the model set out by South Korea.
Mr Varadkar said: ‘What you need is a comprehensive strategy, involving social restrictions, social distancing, testing, contact tracing and isolation of those who are positive.
‘That’s very much what they’ve done in South Korea and that’s actually the model we’re following here.’
‘Extraordinary measures’