€19M DEAL FOR ANTI-DRONE SYSTEM

That is the date when Ireland assumes a rotating six-month presidency of the council of the European Union - which will see dozens of top-security meetings and summits held in Dublin and elsewhere in Ireland.

- BY MICHAEL O'TOOLE

THE Government has signed a deal worth almost €20 million to give the Defence Forces a sophisticated system to take down drones invading Irish airspace, it has emerged.

This paper has confirmed that Department of Defence officials signed the deal around the New Year - and the anti-drone weapons will be at work within months.

Sources tell us the anti-drone systemor C-UAS - has been bought for around €19 million and is French-made.