MINISTER FOR Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin, has called on Irish citizens who are planning to travel abroad in 2010 to exercise caution after his department experienced a record number of requests for consular assistance in the past 12 months.
‘‘Our network of embassies and consulates has never been busier in responding to consular emergencies,” Mr Martin said.
In 2009, the Department of Foreign Affairs dealt with more than 1,350 serious consular emergencies, including deaths, arrests, kidnappings, accidents and cases where periods in hospital were required. This compared with 1,200 incidents during the previous year.
Just over 240 Irish citizens died abroad this year, an increase of almost 20 per cent on 2008 figures.
The department also dealt with 319 arrest cases in 2009, up from 225 in 2008.
Two Irish citizens – Goal aid worker Sharon Commins and Wexford-born Fr Michael Sinnott – were released following separate long-running abductions in Darfur and the Philippines.
By far the highest number of consular emergencies occurred in Spain, followed by the US, Australia, Thailand, Britain, France, Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy, Turkey and Greece.
Consular assistance was provided to Irish citizens in virtually every country in the world, including Samoa, Mongolia, Ecuador, Nepal, Sierra Leone and New Caledonia.
Mr Martin said people should take personal responsibility for their wellbeing while away and he urged travellers to familiarise themselves with their intended destination on www.dfa.ie before their departure.
“Our statistics clearly show that increasing numbers of Irish citizens are finding themselves in distressing situations while abroad, and travelling to ever more exotic and unusual destinations,” he added.
Travellers are encouraged to register their details online with the department to make it easier to contact their next of kin in case of a consular emergency.
Mr Martin also strongly recommended that all those planning trips abroad in the new year ensure that they have comprehensive travel insurance.