Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 November 2023
88. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the total cost to date of assisting Irish citizens in Gaza to leave the area following the outbreak of hostilities there on 7 October 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51923/23]
View answerThrough our Embassies in Cairo and Tel Aviv, our Representative Office in Ramallah and our Consular Directorate in Ireland, my Department has to date assisted 56 Irish citizens and accompanying dependents to leave Gaza, and with arrangements for onward travel to Ireland. A small number of Irish citizens remain in Gaza. We will continue to work with the relevant authorities on any additional cases where other Irish citizens and accompanying dependents wish to exit Gaza.
The extent or the consular assistance provided by the Department of Foreign Affairs is set out in the Consular Assistance Charter. Among others, we provide advice, assistance with travel documents, information on local practices and liaise with the family members of Irish citizens in difficulty abroad. In general, my Department does not provide financial support to Irish citizens overseas. A link to the Consular Assistance Charter is provided below for information: assets.gov.ie/274723/58a5786b-0337-4725-91d3-88b9209cbb50.pdf.
Given the particular circumstances of facilitating Irish citizens and their accompanying family members to leave Gaza, our Embassy in Cairo has in certain cases been required to assist citizens in meeting the costs of immigration into Egypt, accommodation in Egypt, transport in Egypt, and with making onward flight bookings.
On an exceptional basis, and where the citizen was not in a position to immediately bear the costs associated with travel, the Department has facilitated the repatriation of citizens subject to a commitment to repay the relevant costs at a subsequent time. Detailed procedures are in place to follow up in this regard. In total, costs of €33,113 have been incurred to date and these costs will be recouped where appropriate.
