PBP protest summit with projection on Convention Centre

People Before Profit has projected a video onto Dublin's Convention Centre in protest at the hosting of the European Political Community summit at the venue on Thursday.

The rolling footage targeted EU leaders for being "complicit" in the war in Gaza and as well as honing in on Germany for "being the second-largest supplier of major arms to the United States".

The projection also claimed "workers will bring the war machine to a halt - like they've proven they can do".

Around 50 heads of State or Government are due in the Capital for the summit - in what will represent the biggest ever gathering of world leaders on Irish soil.

Speaking near Dublin's Convention Centre; People Before Profit Dún Laoghaire TD Richard Boyd Barrett said: "We're projecting onto the Convention Centre where EU leaders are going to meet.

"The point we are making is that while ordinary people are having to threaten strike action in order to get a decent pay increase, the Government and EU leaders are here to discuss crucially their plans to double our arms expenditure; to spend tens of billions extra on weapons and militarisation".

Members of An Garda Síochána quickly engaged with the People Before Profit contingent beaming the images onto the Convention Centre, thereby halting the projection.

It's understood gardaí were concerned as to where the vehicle projecting the footage was parked and so those involved sought an alternative location.

A protest is also planned by the Irish anti-war movement in Dublin's city centre on Thursday evening to coincide with the summit.

"We're saying anybody who is against Irish neutrality and who is against war and militarisation and is concerned with Europe's complicity in Israel's crimes against the Palestinians should march in Dublin on Thursday.

"We are going to be marching as close as we can to where EU leaders, the heads of NATO and our Government will be wining and dining [at the National Gallery]", said Mr Boyd Barrett.

Separately, the organisers of April's fuel protests have said they are not involved in organising an advertised protest against fuel prices in Dublin on Friday to coincide with the EU summit in Dublin.

A group entitled "People of Ireland Against Fuel Prices" is seeking support for nationwide demonstrations and convoys on Friday to "call for action on fuel prices and the cost of living".

The action includes a planned march from the GPO on O'Connell Street through Dublin's City Centre to Dublin Castle on Friday afternoon.

However, John Dallon confirmed neither he nor Christopher Duffy or James Geoghegan - the organisers of April's protests - are involved in planning Friday's event.

Mr Dallon confirmed to RTÉ News he was not involved in the new demonstration but added that he did not wish to condemn those who may want to proceed with any planned action.