Ireland has the capabilities to protect European leaders gathering in Dublin for two major summits next month, Tánaiste Simon Harris has insisted. He said the Irish Government is taking the security of the events "extraordinarily seriously."
Security preparations for November summits
Dublin will host a meeting of the European Political Community on November 12, followed by an informal meeting of EU heads of state the next day. Ireland is hosting the summits as part of its ongoing presidency of the EU Council, which began in July.
Commenting on the potential for drone incursions, Mr Harris acknowledged such incursions "can and do happen," but stressed that Ireland is not being "complacent" about the potential security risks around the meetings.
Garda industrial action concern
Mr Harris also expressed hope that members of the Garda would not opt to engage in work-to-rule industrial action during the summits. Representatives of rank-and-file gardaí are considering such a step amid a dispute over working conditions during Ireland's six-month EU Council presidency.
Speaking to RTÉ Radio One, Mr Harris said: "I suppose it's a statement of the blindingly obvious that the higher profile of an international event that you host in any country, I suppose the greater the level of security priority that needs to be attached to it."
Government confidence in preparations
Mr Harris thanked the men and women of An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces for their work during the Irish presidency, noting that a number of big events have already gone well but there is "no room for complacency."
He added that a meeting of the National Ministerial Security Council will take place next week to update on preparations and plans, without discussing content, to reassure the public that the matter is taken "extraordinarily seriously."
Mr Harris said: "We do have the capabilities to protect... we're investing more in defence than ever before. We're increasing our defence capabilities, whether that's around radar or sonar... I am confident that this country is prepared."
He noted drone incursions have occurred in many countries, including those with "massive investment" in military and defence, and expressed confidence in both the Chief of Staff of the Defence Forces, Lieutenant General Rossa Mulcahy, and Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly.
