Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 14 November 2012
55. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of requests for consular assistance received by each of the State's diplomatic missions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50299/12]
View answerOver the last decade, the number of Irish citizens travelling abroad has increased dramatically, there were over 6.2 million visits abroad by Irish residents in 2011. As the number of Irish citizens travelling and living abroad continues to rise, so also does the need for consular assistance and support. In 2011, this Department assisted almost 1,500 Irish citizens following serious consular emergencies overseas, including deaths, arrests, kidnaps, accidents, child abductions and hospitalisations. While Consular assistance was provided to Irish citizens in virtually every country in the world, by far the highest number of consular emergencies occurred in Spain, followed by Australia, US, Britain, Thailand, France, Portugal, Poland, Turkey, the Netherlands, Canada, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Greece and the United Arab Emirates. The Department provided consular assistance to the families of almost 200 people who died abroad and dealt with nearly 300 cases of arrest, as well as a number of child abduction cases.
Also 2011 was an exceptionally busy year as we responded to crisis situations in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain and Syria as well as to the earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan. Hundreds of Irish citizens and their families were advised, assisted and helped to leave these areas of conflict or natural disaster.
Ireland has 66 bilateral diplomatic and consular Missions and 96 Honorary Consuls in 58 countries around the world. Together with the Headquarters based Consular Assistance Section, they are available to provide consular assistance and advice to our citizens in need abroad and their families in Ireland.
