Issue Date: 10/11/2026
Meeting of the European Political Community (EPC) 12th November 2026 and Informal Meeting of EU Heads of State or Government (iEUCO) 13th November 2026.
- Over 15,000 12-hour tours of duty over duration of event
- Over 100 advanced escort trained Garda motorcyclists
- Over 200 motorcycle security escorts
- Over 200 members of An Garda Síochána trained search teams, supported by Garda Water and Dog unit and the Irish Defence Forces
- Over 500 Public Order Gardaí on duty each day
- Over 500 armed tactical Gardaí, including Emergency Response Unit, Armed Support Unit, Special Detective Unit and trained close protection officers from National Bureaus and Garda Divisions
The European Political Community (EPC) meeting of Heads of State and Government from across Europe will take place on the 12th November 2026. This will be the largest Heads of State and Government gathering that Ireland has ever hosted, with around 50 European leaders and heads of European and international organisations in attendance and other invited attendees.
An informal meeting of Heads of State or Government of the EU will take place on the 13th November. The meeting will bring together the leaders of EU Member States, joined by the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission.
The policing and security operation for these meetings on the 12th and 13th November 2026 will be the largest policing and security operation undertaken by An Garda Síochána in the history of the state.
In preparation for the EPC and the iEUCO An Garda Síochána has implemented the following provisions:
- Declaration of an extraordinary event in accordance with the Midland Working Time Agreement
- Development of a national roster arrangement for the period 10th - 14th November 2026 to provide resources for this extraordinary event
- Re-allocation of Garda staff and Garda Trainees from the Garda College to support the Policing and Security operation on the 12th November 2026
- Liaison with the Irish Defence Forces for appropriate assistance in aide to the civil power (C70s)
- Liaison with Government Departments, national transport providers, relevant local authorities, Irish Aviation Authority, Dublin Airport Authority and Shannon Authority
- Liaison with international police forces
- Liaison with embassies of attending Heads of State or Government.
Business continuity:
- The declaration of an extraordinary event and the development of the national roster arrangement will also ensure business continuity across the country and resources for any other policing operations required during this period.
- There will be no reduction in day-to-day policing services.
The policing and security operation is a whole of An Garda Síochána response. Every member of An Garda Síochána will be involved directly in the policing and security operation or indirectly in ensuring business continuity or providing support to the policing and security operation.
Over the course of the policing and security operation members of An Garda Síochána will perform over 15,000 12-hour tours of duty from Tuesday 10th – Friday 13th November 2026.
The Policing and security operation involves:
- Frontline Uniform and Plain Clothes Personnel, supported by specialist units from Special Tactics and Operations Command (STOC) including Close Protection Officers, Emergency Response, Armed Support and C-UAS Units• Roads Policing Units including National Escort Unit
- National Public Order Units, including 2 water cannon
- National Search Teams
- National Support Services (Horses, Dogs, Water and Air Support Units)
- Special Detective Unit and National Bureaus (from Organised and Serious Crime) providing additional specialist static and mobile armed protection
- National and Local Intelligence Units
International policing and security operations also involve the support of International partners, including the Police Service of Northern Ireland, partners from High Risk Security Network (HRSN) from Latvia and Portugal and military partners supporting the Irish Defence Forces. International police forces are providing high-level specialist support services only and are not involved in frontline policing.
The implementation of any modern large policing and security operation requires and is supported by HR, Finance, ICT and a range of other support services predominantly provided by Garda staff.
Strategic and Tactical Control rooms will commence operations at 7am Wednesday 11th November at the DMR Regional Control room at the National Train Control Centre, Heuston Station with local Operation Control rooms at key locations across Dublin.
The deployment of a policing and security operation of this scale has required significant logistical support. Over the duration of the operation from Tuesday 10th – Friday 13th November 2026 it is expected that over 35,000 hot, sit-down meals will be provided to Garda personnel across 9 catering facilities locations.
Garda personnel will also be provided further welfare support including welfare hubs, portaloos, inclement weather shelters, where appropriate, and the provision of a fleet of welfare vans, which are mobile units and contain hot and cold drinks, snacks and fruit. Welfare Officers are deployed at key catering and parading locations.
An Garda Síochána will deploy various styles of barriers including heavy vehicle mitigation (HVM) barriers, and security scanning equipment where required.
In planning for the EU Presidency and this specific event EPC/ iEUCO An Garda Síochána has procured additional transport, including motorcycles, cars, Public Order vans and other support transport.
Over 120 advanced escort trained Garda motorcyclists have been provided with new personal motorcycle protective suits and motorcycle helmets. Over 200 motorcycle security escorts will be provided over the duration of the events.
Garda National Public Order Unit personnel have also been provided with new personal Public Order, flame retardant, protective suits and personal issue Public Order Protective Body Armour, with over 500 Public Order Gardaí on duty each day on the 12th and 13th November supported with a fleet of over 40 bespoke retrofitted Public Order Patrol Vehicles, Water Cannon and Command vehicles.
An Garda Síochána has made significant investment in the most advanced C-UAS (Counter - Unmanned Aircraft systems (Counter Drone)) to detect, track, identify, and mitigate unauthorised or hostile drone activity.
Over 200 members of An Garda Síochána trained search teams, supported by Garda Water and Dog unit and our colleagues in the Irish Defence Forces in certain areas, have been and continue to be involved in deep searches of locations connected with these visits.
Over 500 armed tactical Gardaí, including Emergency Response Unit, Armed Support Unit, Special Detective Unit and trained close protection officers from National Bureaus and Garda Divisions will be deployed each day of the operation on 12th/ 13th November 2026, further supported by local armed plain clothes Gardaí on protection duties at locations associated with these events.
Public Order Restrictions
Orders under section 21, Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994 are in place to control access to the Convention Centre Dublin and National Gallery of Ireland.
Drone Restrictions
The largest and widest TRA (Temporary Restricted Airspace) flight restriction notifications is in place across Dublin from 9am Wednesday 11th November 2026 until 12md Saturday 14th November 2026. This includes restrictions on Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) i.e. drones.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) issues these restrictions, some of which can be issued at short notice for operational reasons. UAS (drone) pilots should check the IAA website for restrictions on flying drones in UAS Geographical Zones and TRAs immediately before operating a UAS.
C-UAS detection systems will be in place to identify the location of drones that are flying in restricted areas as well as the drone pilot. Breaches of TRAs and Geographical Zones are subject to investigation by An Garda Síochána and the IAA.
A list of TRA notices is published on the IAA website.
Details of UAS Geographical Zones are also published on an interactive map on the IAA website.
Maritime Restrictions
A temporary maritime exclusion zone and associated outer control area will be in operation for River Liffey and Dublin City Coast from 00:01 11 November until 23:59 13 November 2026.
This marine notice is issued solely to advise mariners of navigational restrictions arising from that temporary maritime exclusion zone and associated outer control area.
Marine notices are issued for maritime safety and navigation reasons.
A list of marine notices is published by Department of Transport on the Gov.ie website.
General Information and Advice:
An Garda Síochána is working to ensure that the nature and scale of our policing and security operation continues to be proportionate to the need to protect everyone’s safety.
Our objective is to continue to share as much information with the public where necessary as soon as we are in a position to do so.
We would ask members of the public to heed the advice and instructions of Gardaí and we thank them for their continuing co-operation.
In general, An Garda Síochána advises the public in the areas affected in Dublin to plan their day, leave extra time for their journeys and to expect delays.
Updates:
An Garda Síochána will provide real-time updates during these events, where appropriate and required, through:
• Garda Press Office
• Media Press releases
• Facebook - An Garda Síochána
• Instagram @gardainsta
• X @gardatraffic and @gardainfo
• Garda website www.garda.ie
