Issue Date: 15/07/2026
An informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for Justice and Home Affairs is taking place over two days in Dublin Castle.
The event begins on Thursday morning, 16th July and continues until Friday afternoon, 17h July 2026. This meeting forms part of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Dublin Castle
The Irish Presidency is primarily concentrated in Dublin Castle. A policing and security operation is currently in place at Dublin Castle and will remain in place for the duration of the Presidency.
The following roads are currently closed to both traffic and pedestrians and will remain closed until 31st December 2026:
• Castle Street
• Ship Street Little
• Ship Street Great
Local access is facilitated.
Informal Meeting of Justice and Home Affairs Ministers – 16th and 17th July
The attendees will arrive and depart through Dublin Airport over Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Normal operations will continue at Dublin Airport at all times.
Formal and informal EU Presidency events will be concentrated at the following locations:
• Dublin Castle
• InterContinental Dublin by IHG
• Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge
• Dublin Port
Traffic restrictions will be kept to the minimum required and it is intended that any impact on the public will be localised.
Members of the public are asked to comply with Gardaí on duty in the event of encountering any escort rolling road closure.
Wednesday, 15th July 2026
Localised temporary parking restrictions will be in place in the Dublin 4, Ballsbridge area from Wednesday afternoon.
Thursday, 16th July 2026
Localised temporary traffic restrictions and Garda motorcycle rolling road closures to facilitate security escorts between the hours of 8.00am and 9.00am on Thursday morning in the south city centre between Ballsbridge and Dublin Castle (primarily affecting Merrion Road, Mespil Road, Leeson Street, St Stephen's Green, Kevin Street, Bride Street and adjoining roads).
Intermittent localised temporary traffic restrictions and Garda motorcycle rolling road closures to facilitate security escorts between the hours of 4.30pm and 6.30pm on Thursday afternoon in the city centre between Dublin Castle and Dublin Port (primarily affecting Bride Street, Kevin Street, St Stephen's Green, Merrion Street, Pearse Street, Cardiff Lane, North Wall Quay) and between Dublin Port and Ballsbridge (primarily affecting North Wall Quay, Macken Street, Northumberland Road, Merrion Road).
Intermittent localised temporary traffic restrictions and Garda motorcycle rolling road closures to facilitate security escorts on Thursday evening in the south city centre between Ballsbridge and Dublin Castle (primarily affecting Merrion Road, Mespil Road, Leeson Street, St Stephen's Green, Kevin Street, Bride Street and adjoining roads).
Friday, 17th July 2026
Localised temporary traffic restrictions and Garda motorcycle rolling road closures to facilitate security escorts between the hours of 8.00am and 9.00am on Friday morning in the south city centre while escorts are moving (between Ballsbridge and Dublin Castle, primarily affecting Merrion Road, Mespil Road, Leeson Street, St Stephen's Green, Kevin Street, Bride Street and adjoining roads).
General Information and Advice:
An Garda Síochána is working to ensure that the nature and scale of the policing and security operation for the Presidency of the Council of the European Union is proportionate 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 ask members of the public to heed the advice and instructions of Gardaí, and we thank them for their co-operation.
An Garda Síochána continues to engage with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and public transport providers to minimise disruption to the public transport network.
Operational plans are subject to change for security and operational reasons.
Real-time updates will be provided, where appropriate, by the Garda Press Office via press release to media and An Garda Síochána's official social media accounts:
• X @gardatraffic and @gardainfo
• Facebook An Garda Síochána
• Instagram @gardainsta
• Website www.garda.ie
Drone Restrictions:
UAS Geographical Zones and/ or TRA (Temporary Restricted Airspace) flight restriction notifications will be in place at venues hosting EU Presidency events. 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.
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.
