PSNI to support gardaí amid huge security operation for EU meetings

10 November 2026, 06:26 GMT

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) will support their Irish counterparts in policing a major European Union (EU) summit in Dublin this week.

Even though officers from abroad will not be involved in frontline policing, gardaí (Irish police) said they are being supported by the PSNI, police from Latvia and Portugal and other international law enforcement agencies.

Policing the European Political Community (EPC) summit on Thursday and the informal meeting of the European Council on Friday will be the single biggest policing and security operation in the history of the republic.

It comes as hoax bomb threats have been made, with more expected.

The Republic of Ireland has been chairing the EU presidency since 1 July and will continue until 31 December.

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said it will be a "challenging couple of days" for the gardai but said it is prepared.

"There's a whole myriad of threats that we are looking at, from hybrid, to public order, to general interference and of course we have seen a lot of the activity in the past week.

"But I am confident we have put preparations in place."

Last week, a hoax bomb threat was sent out to Ireland's public service broadcaster RTÉ, as well as the NewstalkFM radio station and Irish Independent newspaper offices.

Several European flights last week were disrupted due to threats.

Gardaí have been working to put in unprecedented manpower behind the events, which are taking place in Dublin and will lead to significant travel and traffic disruption.

This includes:

The public is being warned to expect traffic disruption.

Some 50 international leaders will attend a meeting of the EPC, while leaders from the 27 EU member states, as well as some other international leaders, will remain in Dublin for Friday's meeting.

The EPC will take place in the Convention Centre Dublin. The informal European Council meeting will take place in the convention centre on Friday.

Arrivals and departures for these events will take place at Dublin Airport and Casement Aerodrome.

Supt Liam Geraghty said there had been "intense and extensive planning" between the force and local authorities, transport companies as well as businesses and residents in key locations.

"Our appeal is to advise the public of the significant traffic disruptions that will take place in order to put that policing and security operation in place," he said.

He described the policing and security operation as being bigger than those put on for any US presidential visit.

The policing operation will begin and increase incrementally from Tuesday 10 November and Wednesday.

Gardaí expect to put in place temporary traffic restrictions across the wider Dublin region to facilitate security motorcycle escorts from Dublin Airport and Casement Aerodrome to Dublin city centre.

The highest impact of these restrictions will be:

• 13:00 (local time, 13:00 GMT) -23:00 Wednesday 11 November, airports to city centre

• 07:00-11:00 Thursday 12 November, airports to city centre/in city centre

• 15:00-23:00 Thursday 12 November, city centre

• 07:00-11:00 Friday 13 November, city centre

• 13:00-20:00 Friday 13 November, city centre to airports

The M50 motorway and Dublin Port Tunnel are not expected to be directly affected.

Political leaders will arrive and depart from Dublin Airport during 11, 12 and 13 November.

The highest impact of these arrivals/departures will be:

• 13:00-23:00 Wednesday 11 November

• 07:00-11:00 Thursday 12 November

• 15:00-20:00 Friday 13 November

Gardaí said normal operations would continue at Dublin Airport, with departures and arrival roads for terminals one and two being unaffected.

But members of the public who are travelling have been warned to allow extra time to arrive at the airport during the peak times.

Traffic restrictions will be in place at Dunbro between R108 and R122.

Additional police patrols will be in place along perimeter roads of Dublin Airport including the Naul Road, R108, R132 and Old Airport Road.

Access to the aircraft viewing stands on the R108 and Naul Road adjacent to Dublin Airport will be restricted.

Casement Aerodrome at Baldonnel, the Irish military airbase, will see heads of state or government arrive and depart.

The highest level of disruption will be during:

• 13:00-23:00 Wednesday 11 November

• 07:00-11:00 Thursday 12 November

• 13:00-20:00 Friday 13 November

Perimeter roads will be subject to additional patrols and traffic restrictions. Parking and stopping on perimeter roads will be restricted.

Former One Direction singer Niall Horan is performing at the 3Arena for four nights, 9, 10, 12 and 13 November.

The 3Arena will be outside of the security cordon for this operation, but there will be no east/west traffic on North Wall Quay from 10-13 November.

Cars will be able to access the 3Arena along Seville Place/Sherriff Street Upper, East Wall Road and across Tom Clarke Toll Bridge at all times.

Luas operations will continue as normal on 10 November 2026, but there will be no Luas services to the 3Arena on the 12 and 13 November.

A restricted number of special Luas services will be facilitated after the event on the 12 and 13 November.

There will be no pedestrian access along North Wall Quay on 12 and 13 November 2026.

The policing operation will begin on Tuesday and a security cordon will be established around the Convention Centre Dublin from 07:00, including barriers and no-parking restrictions.

On Wednesday, a security cordon will be established around the National Gallery of Ireland from 07:00, including barriers and no-parking restrictions.

Traffic and parking restrictions may be implemented in the vicinity of hotels associated with these meetings from 07:00 until late Friday morning across Dublin south and north city centre.

A wider security cordon and extended traffic management cordon will be established around the Convention Centre Dublin from 20:00 on Wednesday until Friday evening.

Samuel Beckett Bridge will be closed to traffic from 20:00, with north/south traffic across Samuel Beckett Bridge being diverted from approach roads.

Traffic movements will be restricted within an area bounded by:

• Amiens Street

• Seville Place/Sheriff Street Upper

• East Wall Road

• North Wall Quay

On Thursday, a traffic management cordon will be established in the vicinity of the National Gallery of Ireland from 07:00 until midnight.

Traffic movements will be restricted within an area bounded by:

• Baggot Street

• Fitzwilliam Street

• Merrion Square North

• Clare Street

• Kildare Street

Access to residents and businesses will remain open, with security checks

Additional traffic and parking restrictions will be implemented on roads within Dublin city centre in the vicinity of Merrion Square and the Docklands from 07:00 until late Thursday evening.

Gardaí said it could be expected that there will be significant road closures in this area, at times between 15:00-1900 on Thursday.