Tánaiste urges citizens to be TravelWise following 17% increase in consular cases

Tánaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Micheál Martin TD, has issued a call to those travelling overseas to be aware of the Government’s travel advice, be TravelWise, and Make the Right Memories following an increase in citizens seeking consular assistance this year.

Speaking ahead of the August Bank Holiday weekend, the Tánaiste said: “My Department, through its network of Embassies and Consulates abroad, as well as a dedicated team in Dublin, offers 24-hour assistance for Irish citizens who may find themselves requiring help when abroad. Already this year, we have seen a 17% increase in consular cases when compared with the first six months of last year.

“One of the Department’s top priorities is ensuring as many Irish citizens as possible have access to up-to-date travel information. This enables them to make smart, TravelWise decisions before and during their holiday, and enjoy a stress-free trip. There has been a significant increase in those visiting the TravelWise website www.ireland.ie/travelwise , and consular assistance webpages in particular. I welcome this level of engagement from the public, and hope it continues.”

“I urge anyone travelling abroad to purchase comprehensive travel insurance. If you are travelling within the EU carry both a valid Passport Card and a European Health Insurance Card. I also encourage citizens to follow the current advice issued by the HSE regarding heat health, such as avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and limiting physical activity to cooler parts of the day”.

Referring to the Department’s youth travel campaign ‘Make the Right Memories’, the Tánaiste said: “Many young people are travelling overseas independently for the first time this summer. They will encounter circumstances unfamiliar to them that can present additional risks abroad. However, by looking out for themselves, and the friends they travel with, they can ensure that, together, they ‘Make the Right Memories’. Simple actions like remembering to keep your phone charged and sharing live locations with friends, especially on nights out, can have a hugely positive impact on travel safety.”

Though the majority of trips abroad are enjoyed without incident, Ireland’s network of over 100 Embassies and Consulates across the world, as well as its dedicated team in Dublin, are on call to provide local expertise and advice to Irish citizens in difficulty abroad.

ENDS

Press Office

02 August 2024

Notes to editors:

Irish people are travelling abroad in greater numbers, and with greater frequency than ever before. Based on consular assistance statistics, 2023 saw the highest number of deaths of Irish citizens overseas reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs. More than one-in-five of all new consular cases in 2023 related to the death of an Irish citizen overseas.
TravelWise, the department’s Travel Advice service, helps Irish citizens make informed choices about trips overseas with clear and objective Travel Advice for more than 200 destinations worldwide. It also offers thematic travel advice on topics such as Travelling with Children and Mental Health and Travel. Visit www.ireland.ie/travelwise to learn more. An email service is also available for those with urgent queries at traveladvice@dfa.ie.
Irish citizens travelling or residing abroad are encouraged to register on the Department’s Citizens Registration platform. This allows the Department to contact those registered in the event of an unforeseen crisis and, if necessary, to provide consular assistance.
The Department’s Consular Assistance Charter clearly sets out the assistance that can be provided to citizens in difficulty overseas, and the limits of what the Department can do. Citizens requiring assistance while travelling can contact the Department of Foreign Affairs through the closest Irish Embassy or Consulate or by calling the Consular Assistance Unit on +353 1 408 2527.
The Department’s youth travel campaign was launched by the Tánaiste in May and encourages young people to 'Make the Right Memories' by following practical steps to stay safe and look after each other while on holidays. It is a partner campaign to the Department’s 'Don’t be that Person' passport renewal campaign for 2024, and is running concurrently to the Government’s Be Summer Ready campaign, the focus of which is TravelWise.