Dublin closes roads and cordons as EU leaders gather for summits from 12 November

Closures and cordons from Tuesday

Road closures and transport restrictions began in Dublin city centre on Tuesday, 10 November, and run until Friday, 13 November. North Wall Quay was shut to traffic and pedestrians at 7am on Tuesday and is due to stay closed until Friday evening. From 8pm on Wednesday, 11 November, a wider cordon around the Convention Centre Dublin is due to apply until Friday evening, and Samuel Beckett Bridge will close to traffic. Residents and businesses keep access, subject to security checks. Dublin City Council expects prolonged disruption, especially in the IFSC and south city areas.

Summits and attendees

The European Political Community meeting takes place on Thursday, 12 November, at the Convention Centre Dublin, and Taoiseach Micheál Martin will host a dinner for visiting leaders at the National Gallery of Ireland that evening. An EU leaders' meeting on Friday, 13 November, with the presidents of the European Council and European Commission, is the last high-level event of Ireland's EU presidency. Attendance estimates differ: the Irish Examiner says 55 heads of state are due, while the Irish Independent refers to more than 50 world leaders. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend, along with French president Emmanuel Macron, UK prime minister Andy Burnham, German chancellor Friedrich Merz and, according to The Irish Times, Canada's Mark Carney.

Security operation and policing

The Government has declared the operation the biggest policing and security operation in the country. Its Garda Strategic Control Centre, known as "India Base", began operating on Monday, 9 November, at Heuston Station, bringing together garda units with a senior Defence Forces officer and a National Cyber Security Centre official. Maritime and air exclusion zones accompany the closures. Drone police teams from France and the Netherlands support garda counter-drone units but can act only under garda direction. It is understood the threat assessment has not escalated after the cyberattacks and bomb threats in the run-up to the summit. Taoiseach Micheál Martin has warned about the security climate, saying:

“The security stakes are much higher in this period of time than they have been for a long time in Europe.”

Commissioner Justin Kelly has offered extra overtime, an overnight allowance for travel over 50km and a travel allowance for private cars to gardaí policing the summit. The Garda Representative Association said in a statement on Monday, 9 November:

“GRA's central executive committee voted to stand down our work-to-rule position for this week after making significant progress with the Garda commissioner.”

A planned public-sector strike on Thursday, with rallies in Dublin if a pay dispute is not resolved, and a protest march by self-described "anti-war" groups towards the Convention Centre add pressure on the closures.

Impact on businesses and commuters

Some businesses plan to shut for part of the week. Gavan Walsh, owner of Boca Cafe at Spencer Dock, said the cafe will not open on Thursday and Friday, when disruption peaks, and estimated that closing for two days would "wipe out maybe about six weeks of any profit".

“It's a shame something that should be positive for Ireland has a negative impact on the local businesses.”

Adam Maciel, general manager of the Nutbutter at Grand Canal Dock, said lunch trade was already affected on Monday, 9 November, and expects sales to fall 6%, after 10% year-on-year growth over the previous month. Staff will drop from four to three for the week. David Lombard of Kennedy's on Westland Row said he was unsure about the impact but felt "a little bit apprehensive". Jason Cullen of the Dublin Commuter Coalition warned that a large protest would further block the city and affect delivery firms.