Gardaí to step up security for Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other leaders at EU summit in Dublin

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be among 55 heads of state at the European Political Community (EPC) in Dublin on Thursday. File photo: AP/Efrem Lukatsky

Leaders from three or four countries, such as Ukraine and France, will receive a heightened level of security for the European Political Community (EPC) in Dublin on Thursday, it is understood.

The planned measure is part of a massive security operation swinging into action this week, led from the Garda Strategic Control Centre — known as “India Base” — which began operating yesterday.

The base, located at the Garda Command Centre at Heuston Station, brings together all the various garda departments from both policing and security, a high-ranking Defence Forces officer, and a senior official from the National Cyber Security Centre.

The EPC is being held at the Convention Centre Dublin on Thursday and is due to attract 55 heads of state, including, it is expected, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The EU Heads of State, the last high-level event in Ireland's EU presidency, is taking place on Friday.

Declared by the Government as the biggest policing and security operation in the country, large swathes of both sides of the city centre and quays are being closed off, along with maritime and air exclusion zones.

In addition to securing the summits, the Garda’s policing capabilities are being tested by a planned work-to-rule involving frontline gardaí, a national strike protest organised by unions and a protest march towards the Convention Centre by self-described “anti-war” groups.

In the latest move to assuage the Garda Representative Association (GRA) from industrial action, commissioner Justin Kelly told members they would be entitled to additional allowances for policing the EPC.

These include overtime payments, an overnight allowance for those travelling more than 50km, and a travel allowance for using their private cars.

The GRA said in a statement late on Monday: "GRA’s central executive committee voted to stand down our work-to-rule position for this week after making significant progress with the Garda commissioner."

Garda capabilities are being supported by EU colleagues, including highly experienced drone police teams from France and the Netherlands, which are augmenting counter-drone technology garda armed units have acquired.

Foreign units can only act under garda direction.

What's your view on this issue?

You can tell us here

It is understood that leaders of certain countries will receive a higher level of security — namely Mr Zelenskyy, but also, it is thought, the leaders of France, Britain and Germany.

The garda threat assessment has not escalated after last week’s cyberattacks and bomb threats, it is thought. It had already assessed the chance of cyberattacks, bomb threats, as well as drone incursions and protests, as "likely".

Gardaí are closely examining hostile incidents across the EU, including the suspected terrorist attack in Krakow, Poland, and feeding it into their assessment.

• Cormac O’Keeffe, security correspondent