Issue Date: 07/11/2026
Today, the following message from Commissioner Justin Kelly was posted on the Garda internal network:
Colleagues,
This coming week Ireland will host one of the biggest events in its history when approximately 50 Heads of State visit Dublin city centre for the European Political Community – the EPC.
Our threat and risk assessment means this will be An Garda Síochána’s biggest ever security and policing operation.
We have been planning for this for months and I want to thank all of you who have been working on our preparations.
Given our extensive experience in policing such events, I have every confidence it will be a success for our organisation, the country and that we will keep people safe.
However, it will not be easy.
There are a lot of moving parts, a lot of potential risks, and many variables.
I fully appreciate that it will also mean long hours for Gardaí who are working on the EPC and the EU Heads of State meeting the next day.
This, of course, follows the hard work done during the EU Presidency to date, the visit of US President Donald Trump, and on-going policing and security work.
I have seen at first-hand this dedication to duty by Gardaí.
The sacrifices you and your families have made over the last year are fully recognised by myself and the Garda senior management team.
I also want to thank our Garda staff for their excellent work and commitment during the EU Presidency and the visit of US President Donald Trump.
This has been an extraordinary year in terms of what has been asked of you all.
But, everywhere I go, I am thanked by Government, State agencies and international policing and security services for the exemplary work done by Gardaí during the EU Presidency.
This is a credit to each and every one of you.
I am confident that you will once again carry out your duties in a manner that demonstrates the values that make us one of the most trusted police services in the world.
As we face into this considerable challenge, I fully expect you all to undertake your duties as directed and to support this operation as has always been done.
Thank you in advance, and I hope to meet many of you on the ground next week.
