Vol. 512 No. 2
50 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 94 of 4 November 1999, the advice he promised to issue to people intending to travel abroad at the end of 1999 and at the beginning of 2000; the source of this advice; the way in which it is or was delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25431/99]
The Department of Foreign Affairs has just issued advice for Irish citizens travelling abroad over the new year period. The advice is about the possibility that in some countries computer systems may be affected by the "millennium bug" and that essential services such as transport, telecommunications, financial, medical, police, electricity or water supply services may be disrupted or break down, at least temporarily. It is not possible to accurately predict what will happen but the potential for disruption of travel plans should be recognised.
Irish citizens planning to be abroad in the first week or so of January 2000 are being alerted to the possibility of disruption of some services and advised to make contingency plans to cope with the difficulties that would ensue. It is also being suggested that they satisfy themselves in advance that their medical and travel insurance covers them for losses arising from any difficulties caused by the "millennium bug".
The advice is similar to that given by other western foreign ministries and is in the form of a press release which is available on the Department's website, www.irlgov.ie/iveagh.
More specific advice and information are obtainable from a number of websites of other foreign ministries which are accessible through that of the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Irish embassies and consulates will continue to monitor the situations in their areas and will provide normal consular assistance to Irish citizens if required.
