Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 Oct 1993

Vol. 434 No. 2

Written Answers. - EC Circular/Diplomatic Protection.

Godfrey Timmins

Ceist:

118 Mr. Timmins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if Ireland is participating in EC Consular/Diplomatic protection for citizens in third countries as enshrined in the Treaty on European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Spring)

Ireland is participating fully in the new arrangements being worked out to give effect to the consular provisions of the Treaty on European Union.

Article 8 (c) of the Treaty provides that "every citizen of the Union shall, in the territory of a third country in which the member state of which he is a national is not represented, be entitled to protection by the diplomatic or consular authorities of any member state, on the same conditions as the nationals of that State. Before 31 December 1993, member states shall establish the necessary rules among themselves and start the international negotiations required to secure this protection".

The first stage in implementation of this Treaty provision was the elaboration of new guidelines, which came into effect on 1 July this year, for the protection of unrepresented EC nationals by EC missions in third countries. These guidelines concern assistance in emergency situations such as death, serious accident or illness, arrest or detention, assistance to victims of violent crime and relief and repatriation of distressed EC nationals. The next step will be the introduction shortly of common format Emergency Travel Documents from EC nationals whose passports are lost or stolen.

These new EC arrangements will not replace existing bilateral arrangements e.g. those between ourselves and the UK for the protection of Irish citizens in places where there is no Irish mission. However, I welcome the fact that the range of consular protection afforded to Irish citizens in countries where we do not have diplomatic representation will now be broadened and put on a more formal basis.