‘Very significant resources’ in policing Trump visit, Taoiseach says
Mr Trump is to visit Ireland on Saturday and Sunday where he will meet political leaders and also attend the Irish Open golf tournament.
A major security operation will be in place for his arrival, with the Defence Forces co-ordinating manoeuvres with the Irish police service An Garda Síochána.
The visit poses additional logistical headaches for security services as it coincides with several major meetings for Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin said “very significant resources” have been allocated to security services for the visit and the presidency.
At his Fianna Fáil party think-in in Tullamore, Co Offaly, Mr Martin said: “I spoke to the Commissioner on Thursday evening and he was, first of all, very strong and confident in terms of the capacity of An Garda Síochána to meet the challenges that lie ahead.
“This is an exceptionally busy year for An Garda Síochána, with the Presidency of the European Union, the visit of President Trump, and we do have the capacities to manage this and to do it properly.
“Resources, and very significant resources, have been allocated in that regard, and so I’m confident of that.”
Mr Trump is to meet Irish President Catherine Connolly during his visit to Ireland.
The US president 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.
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 Ms 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 Mr Martin at the Farmleigh Estate.
The Taoiseach met Mr Trump in the White House for St Patrick’s Day in March.