Using a laser to dazzle aircraft pilots will become a criminal offence in legislation due to be passed by the Seanad this week.
It emerged yesterday that there were 158 such incidents last year, and 11 have already been recorded since January.
A seriously ill child was being transported on one flight which was targetted last week.
The Transport Minister at the time, Leo Varadkar, announced last month that new legislation would criminalise the incidents.
