I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 120 and 129 together.
A very significant consular support operation is ongoing for citizens across the Gulf and the Middle East impacted by the current conflict. With more than 19,000 Irish citizens registering their presence in Gulf countries in the period from 27 February onwards, bringing the total number registered to more than 27,000, this has been the most significant consular crisis since the COVID pandemic. My Department structured its response accordingly.
Since the start of the crisis, my Department has worked closely with EU Member States, the European External Action Service, the European Commission’s Emergency Response Coordination Centre, authorities in host countries, and others, including structured engagement with relevant government departments, with a view to identifying all possible options to support Irish citizens.
As soon as the conflict began, in line with my Department’s crisis management protocols, I directed the Secretary General to stand up a Crisis Task Team to ensure a whole of Department response that was integrated and at scale. I was in daily contact with and regularly briefed on the work of the team, with a focus on the safety and wellbeing of our citizens.
As demand for consular assistance from citizens increased, the core consular team was expanded, with the addition of senior officials for coordination. Throughout the first two weeks of the conflict, in addition to this augmented core team, the Department had a minimum of 20 surge team members on duty daily, whose primary role is to staff our crisis call centre, which has operated on a 24/7 basis.
To date, direct consular assistance has been given to more than 2,700 citizens, which is more than a normal year's consular caseload. Up to date travel advice and security guidance has also been provided by e-mail to thousands of citizens that registered their presence with us.
My Department's approach to the provision of consular assistance to those who wished to leave the region throughout this period has centred on two primary lines of operation. First, to pursue all possible options to facilitate Irish citizens on the limited number of flights still in operation and to request that direct routes to Dublin from the Gulf would resume, as soon as it was safe to do so. And second, in parallel, there was a clear focus on identifying and delivering repatriation options for Irish citizens, both through Government charters and those of our EU partners.
This approach was quite successful. Emirates currently operates two daily flights from Dubai to Dublin, and Etihad operates one daily flight from Abu Dhabi to Dublin. More than 600 Irish citizens have also left Qatar on flights to London.
I also instructed my Department to organise two repatriation flights that brought 380 Irish citizens and dependents home. For both flights, my Department activated the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (EUCPM), which made a number of seats available to EU citizens, but only after first working to accommodate as many Irish citizens as possible. The EUCPM was also a valuable addition to our efforts to get our citizens home with the facilitation of a number of groups of Irish citizens on flights managed by EU partners.
Given the importance of Gulf airports as a transit point, a significant number of citizens were stranded across a number of countries, mainly in south East Asia, when the conflict began. The Department has also helped over 100 citizens in securing alternative routes home.
In light of the ongoing security situation, my Department continues to advise Irish citizens against all travel to Israel, Iraq, Iran, and Lebanon. Citizens are also strongly advised against non-essential travel to Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan.
Irish citizens remaining in the region are advised to remain vigilant, closely monitor developments, local media, my Department's travel advice, and follow the advice of local authorities, including when this is to shelter in place.
I encourage all Irish citizens in the Gulf or surrounding region seeking assistance to contact my Department’s Consular Crisis Team in Dublin directly on 01-4082000 or their nearest Irish Embassy.
