FAQs on EU Presidency

European Union member states take turns holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union for six months. The Presidency's role is to chair most meetings of the Council, set its work programme and agendas and act as the representative of the Council.

This will be the eighth time Ireland has led the Council of the European Union since 1973, last holding the Presidency in 2013.

Ireland’s EU Presidency runs from 1st July until 31st December 2026. More than 270 events will take place across the country throughout the six-month period as part of the Programme of the Irish Presidency.

An Garda Síochána will implement traffic management plans and the appropriate policing and security measures to facilitate these events.

Since January 2024, we have been preparing for the policing and security requirements of Ireland hosting the EU Presidency.

A robust governance structure, led by Deputy Commissioner, Policing Operations, Shawna Coxon, monitors and reviews the work across the organisation to prioritise and prepare for the demands of the Presidency.

Garda preparations have included meetings with senior officials in relevant agencies including the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces.

In addition, Gardaí have visited countries that recently held the presidency to learn from their experiences, and policing and security colleagues have also visited Ireland.

In preparation for Ireland’s EU Presidency we have procured various vehicles and items of equipment to ensure the delivery of an appropriate security operation during the Presidency and enhance the security and protection capabilities of An Garda Síochána currently and beyond the Presidency.

This has included:

Tactical truck for use by specialist firearm Garda units including Emergency Response Unit (ERU), and Armed Support Units (ASUs)

• Fixed-wing aircraft
• 78 cars for transporting dignitaries and officials
• 75 motorcycles for escort duties
• 12 mini-buses for transporting Gardaí
• Enhanced body armour for public order units
• Hostile vehicle mitigation
• ICT systems and support

We have invested in additional training for Gardaí in areas such as close protection; strategic, tactical and operational command; public order and motorcycle escort.

There has been significant investment in our drone and counter-drone capability over the last 18 months.

Speaking earlier this year, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said he was confident that An Garda Síochána has the capacity and capability to deal with drones up to the law enforcement standard across Europe.

Garda managers have been engaged in a series of table-top exercises on potential scenarios for policing the EU Presidency.

The government has supported An Garda Síochána with a budget of €125 million for the EU Presidency. As this is public money, there are measures and governance in place to ensure that it is spend efficiently.

With this budget An Garda Síochána has also made capital purchases in areas of Information Technology and policing equipment (cars, motorbikes, counter drone measures, etc.) which will continue to be available and used after the EU Presidency.

The Garda Commissioner stated he is confident that we are prepared for the various threats that we may face in the six months of the Presidency.

There's a whole range of security threats that face Ireland during the six months of the EU Presidency and beyond. 

While preparing for the EU Presidency, An Garda Síochána has conducted a threat and risk assessment for the entire EU Presidency and we have also conducted a separate threat and risk assessment for each individual event.

An Garda Síochána has prepared extensively for a whole range of events and scenarios.

The Deputy Commissioner in charge of Operations has also led many scenario planning events where members of An Garda Síochána have worked through potential security threats and our response to them.

Yes, international support from European police forces has already been used, and has been used before on other high profile and security events.

There will be police officers from other EU countries present in Ireland throughout the EU Presidency. This is not unusual. Members of An Garda Síochána have travelled to other EU countries in a similar manner to assist with our colleagues abroad.

Police officers from other jurisdictions are requested to assist Gardaí in very specialised areas. For example, this includes support on our counter-drone capabilities.

EU police officers from another country will not be conducting day-to-day policing functions. All mainstream, frontline policing will be conducted by An Garda Síochána, as it always is.

There will be no armed police from other EU countries on the streets of Ireland during the EU Presidency.

In preparation for Ireland’s EU Presidency in 2026, we have been procuring various items of equipment to ensure the delivery of an appropriate security operation during the Presidency and enhance the security and protection capabilities of An Garda Síochána currently and beyond the Presidency.

This includes significant investment in our drone and counter-drone capability over the last 18 months.

An Garda Síochána has substantially increased our counter-drone capability and we have procured a significant volume of counter-drone equipment.

An Garda Síochána will have counter-drone capability at all the key event sites and other areas as required.  A significant number of Garda personnel have been trained in this area to provide resilience.

An Garda Síochána will also be utilising support from partner EU police forces on occasions to assist us with counter-drone policing. 

Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has publically stated that An Garda Síochána has the capacity and capability to deal with drones up to the law enforcement standard across Europe.

In preparation for Ireland’s EU Presidency in 2026 we have been procuring equipment and investing in training to ensure the delivery of an appropriate security operation during the Presidency and enhance the security and protection capabilities of An Garda Síochána currently and beyond the Presidency.

This includes key areas such as ICT systems and support while Garda managers have been engaged in a series of table-top exercises on potential scenarios for policing the EU Presidency.

The Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau will continue to work with partners such as the National Cyber Security Centre, Europol, Interpol, the FBI and other law enforcement agencies to combat potential threats in this sphere.

In general, traffic restrictions and diversions for EU Presidency events will be kept to the minimum required and it is intended that any impact on the public be localised and minimal. We would ask members of the public to heed the advice and instructions of Gardaí and we thank them for their co-operation. We will continue to liaise with businesses and local residents in the key locations and will communicate directly with them during the EU Presidency where required. We are 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 during the EU Presidency.

We will continue 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.

The Garda Press Office will provide real-time updates, where appropriate, via press releases, our social media channels and website:

• • X @gardatraffic and @gardainfo
  • Facebook An Garda Síochána
  • Instagram @gardainsta
  • Website Garda.ie website 

Ireland is a constitutional democracy, ensuring that citizens have the right to express their beliefs and opinions freely, as well as to gather peacefully, in accordance with legal provisions. To manage public gatherings effectively, An Garda Síochána employs appropriate and proportionate policing measures, enabling citizens to exercise their rights while maintaining public order. It is expected that public gatherings and protests will take place during the EU Presidency.

Peaceful protests will always be facilitated by An Garda Síochána.

An Garda Síochána will not accept protests where there is threat to close or impact critical infrastructure, or to disrupt an EU event.

In response to evolving events, An Garda Síochána follows a community policing model, adopting a graduated approach that aligns with relevant legislation and prioritises public safety.

There will be a proactive, robust policing response in situations where critical infrastructure may be compromised.  This includes access to ports, airports, motorways and fuel storage facilities among others.

We have been liaising with businesses and local residents in the key locations and will continue to communicate directly with them during the EU Presidency, where required. We are working to ensure that the nature and scale of our policing and security operation continue to be proportionate to the need to protect everyone’s safety during the EU Presidency.

We continue to engage with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and public transport providers to minimise disruption to the public transport network.

During the six months of the EU Presidency Gardaí will work to keep people safe at public events across the country in every Garda Division. This includes major sporting events, concerts, festivals, agricultural shows, féiles, car exhibitions, regional fleadhs, charity cycles, road races and fairs to name a few.

In general, An Garda Síochána has in place an appropriate policing plan for every major event. These events are planned through Event Co-Ordination Offices in each Garda Community Engagement area, based on individual event risk assessments, ensuring that not only are the events appropriately resourced to ensure that all those in attendance have a safe and enjoyable time but that An Garda Síochána continues to provide day-to-day services and response to the public keeping people safe.

If you wish to make a report to Gardaí you can do so by phone or in person at any Garda Station. Our station directory can be found here: Station Directory - Garda

In an emergency always call 999/112.

There are over 270 EU Presidency events and meetings planned nationwide during the second half of 2026. While certain events may require the redeployment of Gardaí, sufficient Garda resources will remain available to maintain normal policing services at all times.

We have and continue to conduct extensive planning to ensure that policing services continue in the normal manner and operational requirements are met during the course of the EU Presidency.

The overall number of Gardaí has increased by over 600 in the last three years and will further increase during the remainder of 2026. Many of those additional Gardaí have been assigned to Dublin, where the majority of EU Presidency meetings occur.

A small number of Gardaí have been temporarily transferred to Dublin Castle to support the policing and security operation which is in place for the duration of the Presidency. Local Garda management, where these Gardaí are usually based, will ensure that any investigations are reassigned to another member of An Garda Síochána.

No significant disruption to normal Garda services is anticipated. Supporting victims of crime, the progression of investigations and criminal justice processes remain a priority for us during the Presidency period.

Extensive planning and coordination processes are ongoing to ensure that day-to-day policing services continue to be delivered effectively and that operational requirements are met. Continuity of core policing services across all functional areas remains a key organisational priority.

It is expected that Garda clinics, community meetings, stakeholder engagement initiatives, victim support services, criminal investigations, case management functions, court-related duties and prosecution processes will continue to be delivered in the normal way.

Public confidence and co-operation are essential and An Garda Síochána's focus is on maintaining that trust while delivering a professional, proportionate and visible policing presence.

An Garda Síochána is working to ensure that the delivery of normal policing services is maintained during the EU Presidency.

An Garda Síochána currently has over 3,800 vehicles, continuing to build on the highest fleet on allocation historically in An Garda Síochána.

A range of new vehicles have been added to the Garda fleet to facilitate the EU Presidency. This ensures that existing vehicles and equipment can continue to be used for day-to-day policing needs.  

• 46 Skoda cars
• 32 Audi cars
• 75 motorcycles
• Twelve 16-seater mini buses
• A fixed wing aircraft
• A tactical truck

These vehicles and equipment ensure the delivery of an appropriate security operation during the Presidency and enhance the security and protection capabilities of An Garda Síochána after the Presidency.

Resource requirements for all Presidency events are subject to continuous assessment through established governance, planning and coordination processes. While certain events may necessitate the deployment of Gardaí, sufficient resources will remain available to ensure the continued delivery of Garda services throughout the country.

With more than 270 events, it will be a busy six months for Ireland’s EU Presidency. For more information go to Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2026

The Irish Presidency is primarily concentrated in Dublin Castle while there will also be key events in Cork city and Ballina, Co. Mayo.

On Monday, 15th June 2026 a policing and security operation began at Dublin Castle and will remain in place for the duration of the Presidency with the venue being closed to the public.

The following roads are currently closed to both traffic and pedestrians as part of this operation and will remain closed until 31st December 2026:

• Castle Street
• Ship Street Little
• Ship Street Great

Local access is being facilitated.

The Garda Museum will be closed for the duration of theEU Presidency. However, our Museum team will continue working throughout the six months and can be contacted in the usual way:

By telephone on 01 6669998 or by e-mail to museum@garda.ie.

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.