Dublin wakes up this morning to an unprecedented security operation as the ninth European Political Community (EPC) summit formally opens at the Convention Centre Dublin. From 7 a.m. today, an inner cordon around the Docklands and an outer cordon stretching from Merrion Square to North Wall Quay came into force, with Garda checkpoints, concrete barriers and airport-style screening of vehicles and pedestrians. The Samuel Beckett Bridge has been closed since 8 p.m. last night, while Merrion Square remains sealed until midnight to accommodate a working dinner for the 50 visiting heads of state and government. Motorcades are ferrying delegations between Dublin Airport, Casement Aerodrome and city-centre hotels on rolling road closures that are expected to cause long tail-backs on the M1, M50 and quays throughout the morning and evening peaks. An Garda Síochána has urged commuters to avoid crossing the city centre if possible and to build an extra 60–90 minutes into journeys to the airport or inter-city rail stations. Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus have diverted more than 40 routes, while the Luas Red Line is terminating at George’s Dock. Although schools and offices remain open, many firms have instructed employees to work from home. Hotels close to the Convention Centre report average room rates topping €550, three times the seasonal norm, as diplomatic and security personnel fill available beds. Corporate relocation managers are already fielding questions from expatriate families arriving this week who face delays in household-goods delivery trucks seeking access to the cordoned streets. For mobility managers, the biggest short-term challenge is the knock-on effect on airport connections. Taxi and chauffeur companies have limited access permits and expect demand to outstrip supply during the afternoon departures window. International assignees leaving Ireland for mid-term breaks may need to reschedule flights or switch to regional airports such as Shannon or Belfast. Companies are advised to check staff itineraries against the published Garda cordon maps and to alert travel insurers of the elevated security status until after 11 p.m. on Friday. Normal traffic patterns should resume only once the last delegations depart Friday night.
Source: RTÉ News
