Emergency access to maternity hospital during EU summit

Emergency access for vehicles to the National Maternity Hospital will be maintained for the duration of the EU Presidency meeting security operation, the Master of the hospital has said.

European leaders are meeting in Dublin next Thursday and Friday and the security operation around these events, which has been described as "unprecedented", will get under way two days before on Tuesday 10 November.

Anyone travelling to or around the capital between Tuesday and Friday is being warned to plan their journeys and expect major and prolonged traffic disruption.

Speaking on RTÉ's Today with David McCullagh, NMH Master Professor Jennifer Walsh advised people with standard appointments to leave early and that parking in the area surrounding Holles Street will not be permitted.

"Our main advice is to firstly reassure everybody. We've been here for over 100 years. We have experienced lots of restrictions on Merrion Square down the years and every year. We're here, we're open, we are prepared," she said.

Prof Walsh added: "From a patient perspective, though, you need to be clear that there are certain situations that you need to leave earlier.

"Obviously, if there's an emergency, you will have access. An Garda Síochána are very clear that in an emergency, vehicle access to the area will be facilitated for the whole duration of a security operation.

"There shouldn't be, or I wouldn't anticipate, there'll be significant crowds trying to get to cordons.

"So, if you get to a cordon, you explain your situation, you move on.

"If you're in an emergency vehicle or you need to call for one, you will access the hospital without difficulty."

Around 50 European leaders are due to attend meetings of the European political community in the Convention Centre on Dublin's North Wall Quay next week.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin will also host a dinner for visiting leaders in the National Gallery of Ireland on Thursday evening after the EPC summit.

These summits are the largest meetings of heads of state or government in Ireland and gardaí say their scale and complexity are a significant logistical undertaking with unprecedented security considerations.

Certain roads will be closed, public transport will be diverted and traffic delays are expected.

Anyone travelling to Dublin city, Dublin Airport or Dublin Port next Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday is being warned by Dublin City Council of "major and prolonged traffic disruption".

Gardaí are advising people to leave plenty of time for travel, to check public transport information and to monitor social media for updates.

The National Transport Authority said while there will be "significant disruption" to public transport next week, but it will be operational.

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, NTA Head of Communications Jennifer Gilna said: "What's really important is for everybody, no matter what mode you travel in, whether that's bus, walking, cycling, you will be impacted.

"If you're in a private car, you will be impacted and it's about how you go in and out of the city centre and where you're actually going to."

However, she added that security cordons will be in place in the north and south of the city, leading to significant diversions to bus routes coming into Dublin city centre.

"It's really important to us that everybody that has to attend work, that has to go to a hospital appointment, that has to go to an evening event, be that a concert or the theatre, that they can get there.

"But what I really am trying to get across to everybody is you really do need to allow extra time, and I would like you to look at Transport for Ireland today. Look at how you normally go into the city centre," Ms Gilna said.