Sky cleared for Coalition ahead of European summits

Detailed summary

This time last week the outlook was not good for the Coalition. As Dublin prepared to host a record number of world leaders, striking public sector workers planned a large-scale…

This time last week the outlook was not good for the Coalition. As Dublin prepared to host a record number of world leaders, striking public sector workers planned a large-scale demonstration in the capital to coincide with their arrival.

Fuel protesters were also gearing up for a return to the streets while Government and gardaí sweated over the prospect of a further hybrid attack after last Friday's hoax bomb threat to several media organisations, including RTÉ.

A garda work-to-rule threw doubt over how the force would police the European Political Community and informal European Summit gatherings at the Convention Centre, while the events themselves were to be shorn of up to 350 staff owing to the public sector strike.

It was a bleak prognosis for what was supposed to be a red-letter day for the Government and Irish officials, as well as the high point of Ireland's EU Presidency and indeed, Micheál Martin's second term as Taoiseach.

White smoke emerged from the Workplace Relations Commission in the early hours of Wednesday morning that an agreement for a new public sector pay deal had been struck - averting a strike and a potentially embarrassing demonstration for the Government with the world watching.

Gardaí also abandoned their work-to-rule - bolstering the force for the largest policing operation in its history.

And so, a week on, Government and Irish officials are basking in the glory of what they felt was a very successful two days for Ireland - although Sinn Féin has dismissed it as "glossy showcase" of a prosperous nation householders are not familiar with.

A gargantuan security logistical and diplomatic operation over two years in the making welcomed 50 heads of state or government to the capital, with the Department of Foreign Affairs producing a total of 7,500 accreditation badges for the two summits for delegates, media and venue staff.

Two thousand worked at the summits while gardaí put in 15,000 12-hour shifts.

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