Snipers on the rooftops. Empty streets. A ring of steel around the Docklands. As almost 50 world leaders descended on Dublin this week, Ireland mounted the biggest policing and security operation in the history of the State – and today, Friday, it rolled into its final day.
Around 5,000 gardaí, backed by the Defence Forces, were deployed to protect the European Political Community (EPC) summit, which took place at the Convention Centre on Thursday, and today’s informal meeting of the 27 EU leaders hosted by Taoiseach Micheál Martin.
Why security is on such high alert
Specialist gardaí and Defence Forces personnel have been on high alert for any attempt by Russia or other hostile actors to cause disruption, including from drones. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has privately told fellow EU leaders she suspected Russian meddling, according to reports in the run-up to the summit, and the meeting itself was called partly to deal with a growing wave of so-called hybrid attacks across Europe.
Reporters arriving for the summit described an eerie city: snipers on roofs, airport-style screening for more than 900 journalists and streets so quiet that one compared it to the Covid lockdowns.
Who came to Dublin – and what they talked about
Thursday’s EPC summit drew almost 50 leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
The war in Ukraine dominated. Zelenskyy warned that Russia wants to reshape Europe’s entire security framework. European Council President António Costa said the future of European security “cannot be discussed and decided without Europe”.
There was drama off-stage too. US envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff flew into Ireland straight from meeting Vladimir Putin in Moscow and met Zelenskyy at Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel on Thursday night. Kushner said the US had argued for Europeans to be included in negotiations, but there was little sign of a breakthrough.
Today: AI and Ukraine on the table
Today’s informal meeting of EU leaders was officially Europe’s first dedicated summit on artificial intelligence, but Ukraine muscled its way onto the agenda. Leaders were also expected to discuss the “profile, format and mandate” of a possible EU envoy to Ukraine peace talks, according to EUobserver.
What it means if you’re travelling to Dublin this weekend
According to The Irish Times, the security zone around the Convention Centre was closed to cars, bikes and pedestrians until this evening, with North Wall Quay and the Samuel Beckett Bridge shut and restrictions on Sheriff Street, Amiens Street and East Wall Road.
- The Luas Red Line ran only between Tallaght/Saggart and Connolly today.
- Normal Luas service resumes on Saturday.
- All restrictions are expected to lift in time for the weekend.
The bill
The Department of Foreign Affairs estimated the cost of hosting at €15 million or more, before security costs are added. The Government also averted a threatened public sector strike that had been planned for the same day as the summit.
For a small, neutral country, pulling off a gathering on this scale without a major incident is no small thing. The real test – whether Europe gets a seat at the table on Ukraine – is still to come.
Sources: The Irish Times, Extra.ie, EUobserver.
Main image: Guillaume Périgois / Unsplash
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