Issue Date: 11/11/2026
Meeting of the European Political Community (EPC), 12th November 2026 and Informal Meeting of EU Heads of State or Government (iEUCO) 13th November 2026.
An Garda Síochána's Policing and Security Operation is continuing tomorrow, Thursday, 12th November 2026.
Convention Centre Dublin
A security cordon is now in place around the Convention Centre Dublin including barriers and no-parking restrictions.
A wider security cordon and extended traffic management cordon around the Convention Centre Dublin will be put in place after 8pm this evening, Wednesday 11th November until Friday evening, 13th November.
Samuel Beckett Bridge will be closed to traffic, with north/ south traffic across Samuel Beckett Bridge being diverted from approach roads.
Traffic movements will be restricted within an area bounded by:
• Amiens Street
• Seville Place/ Sheriff Street Upper
• East Wall Road
• North Wall Quay
Access to residents and businesses will remain open, with security checks. Engagement has taken place with residents and businesses directly affected by the security cordon.
North Wall Quay between Guild Street and New Wapping Street remains closed to traffic and pedestrians until Friday evening, 13th November, with east-west traffic being diverted from approach roads.
National Gallery of Ireland
A wider security cordon and extended traffic management cordon around the National Gallery of Ireland will be put in place at 7am tomorrow morning until midnight, Thursday 12th November.
Dublin City Centre
Traffic and parking restrictions will continue to be implemented in the vicinity of hotels associated with these events in the north and south city centre until late Friday morning, 13th November 2026.
Additional traffic and parking restrictions will be implemented on roads within Dublin City centre in the vicinity of Merrion Square and the Docklands from 7am, Thursday 12th November, until the late evening of Thursday, 12th November 2026.
It can be expected that there will be significant road closures in this area at times between 3pm – 7pm on Thursday, 12th November 2026.
General Traffic Restrictions
It can be expected that temporary traffic restrictions will be implemented across the wider Dublin region to facilitate security motorcycle escorts from Dublin Airport and Casement Aerodrome to, and within, Dublin city centre.
The highest impact of these restrictions tomorrow will be:
• At 7am – 11am from the airports to city centre, and in the city centre
• At 3pm – 11pm in the city centre
The M50 motorway and Dublin Port Tunnel are not expected to be directly affected by this policing and security operation at this time.
Dublin Airport
Heads of State or Government will continue to arrive at Dublin Airport tomorrow. The highest impact of these arrivals on tomorrow’s date will be between 7am – 11am.
Normal operations will continue at Dublin Airport. Departures and arrivals roads at T1 and T2 are unaffected. However, travelling members of the public should allow additional time to arrive at the airport during the peak impact times highlighted.
Traffic restrictions will be in place at Dunbro between R108 and R122. Additional Garda patrols will be in place along perimeter roads of Dublin Airport including the Naul Road, R108, R132 and Old Airport Road.
Access to the aircraft viewing stands on the R108 and Naul Road adjacent to Dublin Airport will be restricted.
Casement Aerodrome
Heads of State or Government will continue to arrive at Casement Aerodrome tomorrow. The highest impact of these arrivals on tomorrow’s date will be between 7am – 11am.
Perimeter roads to Casement Aerodrome will be subject to additional Garda patrols and traffic restrictions. Parking/ stopping on perimeter roads will be restricted.
3Arena
A concert will take place in the 3Arena on the evening of Thursday, 12th November.
The 3Arena is outside of the security cordon for this operation but it is impacted by the traffic restrictions.
There will be no east/ west traffic on North Wall Quay on 12th November. Vehicles can access the 3Arena along Seville Place/ Sherriff Street Upper, East Wall Road and across Tom Clarke Toll Bridge at all times.
There will be no LUAS services to the 3Arena on Thursday, 12th November. A restricted number of special LUAS services will be facilitated after the event on the 12th November.
There will be no pedestrian access along North Wall Quay on the 12th November 2026. Pedestrians accessing the 3Arena should use Amiens Street/ Seville Place/ Spencer Dock Bridge/ Sherriff Street Upper/ North Wall Avenue before and after the events.
Background
The European Political Community (EPC) meeting of Heads of State and Government from across Europe will take place on 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 13th November 2026. 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 12th and 13th November 2026 will be the largest policing and security operation undertaken by An Garda Síochána in the history of the State. This policing and security operation will commence and increase incrementally from 10th and 11th November 2026.
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.
Updates
An Garda Síochána will provide additional updates specific to the EPC and iEUCO meetings.
An Garda Síochána will provide real-time updates during the visit, where appropriate and required, through:
• Garda Press Office
• Media press releases
• Facebook An Garda Síochána
• Instagram @gardainsta
• X @gardatraffic@gardainfo
• Garda website www.garda.ie
