Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 February 2007
23 Mr. G. Murphy asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of incidents involving Irish citizens abroad which required consular assistance through Ireland’s embassies in 2006; the number of times Irish citizens availed of the services of the embassy of another EU Member State where there was no Irish diplomatic representation available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3908/07]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Foreign Affairs provides consular assistance to thousands of Irish citizens who travel or reside abroad each year. The consular services provided by our Embassies and Consulates abroad include the following:
issuing passports including emergency travel documents
assistance to victims of serious accidents, illnesses or crime
assisting people detained, arrested or imprisoned abroad
transferring funds, provided by family members, to Irish citizens abroad where conventional means are unreliable or non-existent
repatriation of Irish citizens in emergency circumstances
assistance in connection with deaths abroad and the return of remains to Ireland
providing local travel advice to Irish citizens
voluntary registration of Irish citizens.
Over the last decade, the number of Irish citizens travelling abroad has increased dramatically. As well as an increase in the numbers travelling to traditional western hemisphere destinations, Irish people are now travelling in greater numbers, and indeed living abroad, in a wider range of locations throughout the world than ever before. As the numbers of Irish citizens travelling and living abroad continue to rise, so also does the need for consular assistance and support.
An example of the number of Irish people travelling abroad can be gauged from the fact that in excess 1.5 million of our citizens visited Spain in 2006 and over 500,000 visited the USA.
Ireland now has 74 resident Missions and 85 Honorary Consuls representing the country in all parts of the world. They are readily available, as the need arises, to provide consular assistance to our citizens in need abroad. Likewise, in countries where we have no resident presence, citizens can avail of the services of any EU Embassy. As I believe the Deputy will appreciate, the above embraces a very substantial number of contacts which would be difficult to quantify. I am very pleased, however, that the overwhelming number of our citizens indicate that they are extremely appreciative of the quality of the support and advice they receive from the Department's offices overseas.
