The Department of Foreign Affairs came to the aid of 241 Irish citizens who were arrested abroad during this year.
The number of Irish citizens arrested and potentially facing jail time overseas was up from 191 in 2023 and 141 in 2022.
However, while the numbers have risen post-Covid, statistics released by the department show a nine-year high of 402 of Irish citizens being arrested abroad in 2016.
Revealing the figures, Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said consular assistance was provided to a total of 1,858 new cases in 2024. The assistance covers cases involving missing people, serious injuries, arrests, victims of crime, mental health issues and deaths abroad.
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Among the most frequent issues brought Irish consular offices and embassies abroad, apart from arrests, are those of deaths, medical issues and issues connected with citizens’ welfare.
In 2024 the department supported the relatives of 405 people who died abroad; 301 cases of support for those needing medical aid; 238 welfare issues and 104 victims of crime.
In just seven cases, the department advanced funds to Irish citizens in difficulty abroad.
The figure of 1,858 total cases does not include the State’s ongoing response to assist Irish citizens caught up in a series of crises in the Middle East.
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The work of the department also included authenticating more than 56,000 Irish documents for business or personal use overseas, and more than 2,900 civil letters of freedom issued to Irish citizens marrying abroad during the year.
Mr Martin thanked the State’s employees and “our key partners for their vital contributions and support to Ireland’s consular assistance programme”. Among the partners he mentioned were the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, the Irish Council for Prisoners Overseas, Crosscare, the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, and Safe Home Ireland.
He said these organisations “continue to provide invaluable work in supporting citizens and their families who experience difficult and, in some cases, tragic situations overseas.”
Mr Martin said his department had also responded to Irish citizens caught in conflict zones. “Following the successful evacuation of 59 Irish citizens and dependents 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 dependents 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,” he said.
“Twenty eight Irish citizens and dependents 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.”
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