Dublin disruptions for EU summits - Barry Whyte Reports

SPEAKER_1 (0:00)

The Hard Shoulder, with Ciara Kelly and Shane Colman, on Newstalk, with Kiya.

Shane Colman (0:09)

Now, in case you weren't aware, Dublin is facing four days of major disruption next week, as around 50 European leaders arrive in the capital for two major summits. Our Chief Reporter, Barry Whyte, has been looking into it. Barry, just how bad is the disruption going to be?

Barry Whyte (0:25)

Hi Shane, good afternoon. Well, the message today is pretty clear. If you're planning on travelling into Dublin next week, particularly between Tuesday and Friday, you really need to think about whether that journey is necessary because what we're looking at here is the biggest policing and security operation in the history of the States. In fact, guardies say it's going to be even bigger than the operation that we had recently for the visit of US President Donald Trump. And the reason for that is you've got around 50 European leaders coming to Dublin for two days of high-level meetings. On Thursday, there's the European Political Community Summit. And then on Friday, there's an informal meeting of EU leaders. Both are taking place in the Convention Centre in Dublin's Docklands. So you'll have the French President Emmanuel Macron, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and UK PM Andy Burnham will be here to name a few. Now, as you can imagine, with that many world leaders in one place, the security arrangements are enormous. We're talking about road closures, restricted access, security checkpoints and significant disruption across the city. And it's not just the area around the Convention Centre. There will also be security arrangements around the National Gallery, Dublin Airport, Casement Aerodrome and a number of hotels where these leaders will be staying. Now, Garda have said that people living and working in the affected areas will still be able to access their homes and businesses, but they may have to go through security checks. And Garda Superintendent Liam Garda says the scale of this operation is unprecedented.

SPEAKER_4 (1:53)

No, we have not seen a policing and security operation of this scale ever before in Ireland. This is bigger than a US presidential visit. As we have said, there will be around 50 heads of state and government in Dublin on Thursday the 12th, with the vast majority of them staying overnight for Friday the 13th.

Our appeal again, and why we're out this week, a week in advance, is to advise the public of the significant traffic disruptions that will take place in order to put that policing and security operation in place. People need now, this week, to look at their plans, look at what their normal travel routes, travel plans are, and make whatever arrangements they deem appropriate in order to facilitate their own lifestyles and work requirements.

Barry Whyte (2:39)

At the EPC Summit in Copenhagen last year, I was there. There was Swedish police officers on the streets, there were snipers in roofs, there was German war boats at the harbour. Are we going to see a similar scale operation here?

SPEAKER_4 (2:51)

Okay, as I said, this is the largest policing and security operation. I'm not getting into the operational details of that today.

Shane Colman (2:57)

Okay, Barry, what about public transport? I imagine it's going to be a knock-on effect right across the capital.

Barry Whyte (3:03)

Yeah, absolutely, major disruption, and I think this is probably going to be the biggest headache for most people, because even if you're not traveling anywhere near the Convention Centre next week, you can still find yourself caught up in the disruption. Transport officials are warning that virtually every bus route in Dublin could be affected in some way, and that's because when you close off major roads or divert traffic to accommodate the security operation, that has a knock-on effect right across the city. So buses will be diverted, journeys could take longer, and motorists can't expect significant delays. And while the two summits are taking place on Thursday and Friday, the disruption is actually going to begin on Tuesday. So we're talking about four days here. The Lewis Red Line is also going to be particularly badly affected. On Thursday and Friday, there will be no regular tram services between Connolly Station and The Point, meaning passengers won't be able to use the Lewis to get to the Convention Centre or the Three Arena. In fact, two stops, Mayor Square and Spencer Dock will close from 8 o'clock next Wednesday evening. And there are Niall Horan concerts in the Three Arena on both Thursday and Friday night next week. So thousands of concertgoers will also have to make alternative arrangements to get there. They're being told they'll have to walk from Connolly Station to the Three Arena. Now, there will be a very limited number of special trams operating after the concerts, but otherwise the red line won't operate by beyond Connolly on Eiler Day.