'Crude but viable' device made safe in Dublin

A "crude but viable" device found at a building in Dublin's Merrion Square today has been made safe, gardaí have said.

The army's bomb disposal unit was asked to attend the scene after gardaí were alerted to the discovery of a suspicious device in an office at around 2.20pm this afternoon.

A cordon was established and the Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit deployed remotely operated vehicles and a bomb disposal robot before making the device safe.

Gardai said an investigation into the device had commenced.

It is understood the premises is on the north side of the square and is not the National Gallery, where Taoiseach Micheál Martin hosted political leaders for a dinner last night.

The area had been under a security lockdown for the past two days.

A security operation in the capital was still under way as EU leaders convened again today at the Convention Centre in Dublin for an informal meeting.