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11/01/2016
2,300 Citizens Received Consular Assistance In 2015
More than 2,300 Irish citizens received consular assistance from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2015, it has been revealed. The assistance includes support to the families of Irish citizens who passed away while abroad last year. 263 people passed away abroad in 2015.
The support is provided by the Department's Consular Division in Dublin, as well as its embassies and consulates across the world.
Commenting on the figures, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, said: "The dedicated staff in my Department provide professional and compassionate help to thousands of people each year. Across the world, Ireland's diplomats stand ready to respond quickly and effectively to urgent consular cases and emergencies facing Irish citizens, often in difficult and challenging circumstances.
"Demand for frontline services across the globe increased sharply over the past year, as did the complexity of cases handled. For example, there was an increase in over 20% in both the number of serious medical/hospitalisation cases as well as, very sadly, the number of cases of Irish citizens who died abroad."
He continued: "In terms of responding to major crises, 2015 saw an unprecedented level of action by Department staff, who assisted over 800 Irish citizens caught up in crises abroad.
"The most serious tragedy occurred in Berkeley, where six students, five Irish and one Irish-American, lost their lives and a further seven Irish students were injured. We also witnessed the horrific loss of life in the terrorist attacks at Sousse, Tunisia, and injury in the later Paris atrocities.
"My Department also responded to natural disasters, including the two earthquakes in Nepal."
Minister Flanagan also urged Irish holidaymakers to be prepared if they are travelling.
"It is very important that each individual ensures that they are well prepared before they undertake a foreign trip," he said. "Last year we published specific travel guides to inform people ahead of major events and we will do so again this coming year, including for the European Championships in France and the Rio Olympics. I urge those travelling to take out appropriate travel insurance."
The Department's Consular Division and mission network also provides authentication services for educational certificates, legal documents and company documents. In 2015, a total of 54,982 authentications were provided.
The Department registered 5,826 people for Irish citizenship through Foreign Births Registration in 2015, while it also issued 2,835 Certificats de Coutume (civil letters of freedom) to Irish citizens getting married or entering civil partnerships abroad.
(JP/LM)
The support is provided by the Department's Consular Division in Dublin, as well as its embassies and consulates across the world.
Commenting on the figures, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, said: "The dedicated staff in my Department provide professional and compassionate help to thousands of people each year. Across the world, Ireland's diplomats stand ready to respond quickly and effectively to urgent consular cases and emergencies facing Irish citizens, often in difficult and challenging circumstances.
"Demand for frontline services across the globe increased sharply over the past year, as did the complexity of cases handled. For example, there was an increase in over 20% in both the number of serious medical/hospitalisation cases as well as, very sadly, the number of cases of Irish citizens who died abroad."
He continued: "In terms of responding to major crises, 2015 saw an unprecedented level of action by Department staff, who assisted over 800 Irish citizens caught up in crises abroad.
"The most serious tragedy occurred in Berkeley, where six students, five Irish and one Irish-American, lost their lives and a further seven Irish students were injured. We also witnessed the horrific loss of life in the terrorist attacks at Sousse, Tunisia, and injury in the later Paris atrocities.
"My Department also responded to natural disasters, including the two earthquakes in Nepal."
Minister Flanagan also urged Irish holidaymakers to be prepared if they are travelling.
"It is very important that each individual ensures that they are well prepared before they undertake a foreign trip," he said. "Last year we published specific travel guides to inform people ahead of major events and we will do so again this coming year, including for the European Championships in France and the Rio Olympics. I urge those travelling to take out appropriate travel insurance."
The Department's Consular Division and mission network also provides authentication services for educational certificates, legal documents and company documents. In 2015, a total of 54,982 authentications were provided.
The Department registered 5,826 people for Irish citizenship through Foreign Births Registration in 2015, while it also issued 2,835 Certificats de Coutume (civil letters of freedom) to Irish citizens getting married or entering civil partnerships abroad.
(JP/LM)
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