Consular assistance provided in more than 1,800 cases, including evacuations from Gaza
People Exit (dfa) Were Of Return 49 The Foreign By Gaza 2024, Department To Ireland Affairs To Assisted And In
Consular assistance was provided in more than 1,800 cases in 2024, ranging from parental child abductions, missing persons, mental health issues, and deaths abroad.
The 1,858 new cases dealt with this year marked the third consecutive increase in case numbers per year. The figure does not include ongoing responses to assist Irish citizens caught up in crises in the Middle East.
Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin highlighted some particularly challenging cases that arose during the year, including "complex cases, such as parental child abductions, and in regions where we have no physical presence."
Mr Martin paid tribute to those working in Irish Embassies and Consulates around the world for ensuring citizens receive timely and empathetic support.
This support includes cases involving missing persons, serious injuries, arrests, victims of crime, mental health issues, and deaths abroad.
"I would also like to take this opportunity to thank our key partners for their vital contributions and support for Ireland’s Consular Assistance Programme," Mr Martin said.
"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."
Separately, consular support was provided to Irish citizens caught up in conflict zones, including evacuations from Gaza and assisting citizens to leave Lebanon.
In 2024, 49 people were assisted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to exit Gaza and return to Ireland, bringing the total number of people helped to leave the enclave to 106.
“A small number of Irish citizens and dependents remain in Gaza, and my Department, through our missions in the region, continues to advocate on behalf of those individuals who have not yet been able to leave," said Mr Martin.
The DFA also worked with international partners to help 28 Irish citizens and dependents leave Lebanon.
Mr Martin advised all citizens to check the security status of their travel destinations and understand the limitations of assistance in regions with travel warnings or no diplomatic presence.
In 2024, the DFA also authenticated over 56,000 Irish documents for business or personal use overseas, and over 2,900 civil letters of freedom were issued to Irish citizens marrying abroad in 2024.