US President Donald Trump’s visit will involve “one of the biggest security and policing operations” ever carried out by Irish police.
Mr Trump will be in Ireland on September 12 and 13 for engagements in the capital Dublin as well as at his golf resort in Doonbeg, Co Clare, which will be hosting the Irish Open.
The Irish police service, An Garda Síochána, said it has been involved in “intense, in-depth and extensive planning” ahead of the visit.
It has declared an “extraordinary event” allowing for the changing of rosters and overtime arrangements, re-allocated staff, and engaged with Ireland’s Defence Forces, the Secret Service and other international police forces including from the UK.
It said: “The policing and security operation for the visit of the 47th President of the Untied States of America will be one of the biggest policing and security operations implemented by An Garda Síochána.”
It added: “The policing and security operation is a whole of An Garda Síochána response.
“Over the course of the policing and security operation members of An Garda Síochána will perform over 10,000 12-hour tours of duty from Friday until Sunday.”
It involves the Special Tactics and Operations Command, Close Protection Officers, armed and intelligence units as well as public order police.
Arrangements are being finalised but it is understood Mr Trump will be greeted by the country’s deputy premier, Tánaiste Simon Harris, at Dublin Airport on Saturday.
He is then expected to meet President Catherine Connolly, a long-standing critic of the US President, at her official residence, Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin’s Phoenix Park before a nearby engagement with Taoiseach Micheál Martin at the Farmleigh Estate.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said there will be “no tolerance” for public disorder or attempts to impact “critical movements” of the US President.
He said peaceful protest would be facilitated as much as possible but added: “We have robust policing plans in place and will arrest and prosecute those committing offenses.
“We are well prepared for any eventuality.”
Mr Kelly said the water cannon will be “on standby” but said he hoped it would not be needed.
The visit will cause significant disruption and road closures around Dublin Airport and across the capital city as well as in Co Clare and Shannon Airport which will also be used by Mr Trump.
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