Tánaiste announces Consular Assistance Overview for 2024
- Published on: 31 December 2024
- Last updated on: 12 April 2025
The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin has announced that, for the third consecutive year, the number of consular cases dealt with by the Department of Foreign Affairs has increased.
The department provided consular assistance to 1,858 new cases in 2024. This does not include the ongoing response to assist Irish citizens caught up in a series of major crises in the Middle East. This support includes cases involving missing persons, serious injuries, arrests, victims of crime, mental health issues, and deaths abroad.
The Tánaiste said:
"Providing consular assistance to Irish citizens abroad is a cornerstone of the work of my department. Ensuring our citizens receive timely and empathetic support from our Embassies and Consulates worldwide is an absolute priority for me.
"This year, we have provided assistance in a number of complex cases, such as parental child abductions, and in regions where we have no physical presence. These cases are particularly challenging for citizens and their families.
"I would like to pay tribute to the hardworking staff in our missions overseas who, alongside colleagues based in the department’s headquarters in Dublin, provide round the clock assistance. This important work also includes authenticating over 56,000 Irish documents for business or personal use overseas, and over 2,900 civil letters of freedom issued to Irish citizens marrying abroad in 2024.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our key partners for their vital contributions and support to Ireland’s Consular Assistance Programme. The Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas, Crosscare, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, and Safe Home Ireland continue to provide invaluable work in supporting citizens and their families who experience difficult and, in some cases, tragic situations overseas."
In 2024, the Department of Foreign Affairs responded to complex global crises, providing critical support to Irish citizens caught in conflict zones. Amid ongoing and escalating tensions in the Middle East, the department undertook evacuations from Gaza and assisted Irish citizens to leave Lebanon.
The Tánaiste said:
"Following the successful evacuation of 59 Irish citizens and dependants from Gaza in late 2023, my department assisted a further 49 individuals to exit Gaza and return to Ireland in 2024. This brings the total number of people assisted to leave Gaza to 106.
"A small number of Irish citizens and dependants remain in Gaza and my department, through our missions in the region, continues to advocate on behalf of those individuals that have not yet been able to leave.
"28 Irish citizens and dependants were directly assisted by my department to depart Lebanon aboard flights organised by international partners. All citizens that requested assistance to depart were supported to do so.
"I strongly advise citizens to check the security status of their destination and understand the limitations of assistance in regions with travel warnings or no diplomatic presence.”