THE NUMBER of deaths of Irish people while travelling abroad may more than double this year if current trends continue, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dermot Ahern, said yesterday.
Warning about the misuse of drugs and alcohol when abroad, the Minister said 60 people died while travelling abroad in the first three months of this year.
He said the trend, if continued, could see up to 300 deaths of Irish citizens abroad as the numbers of deaths increased dramatically during the summer.
Last year the number of deaths for the whole year was 130.
Figures released by the Department of Foreign Affairs also showed that one-third of all the deaths so far this year had taken place in Spain, with seven in the US and five in Thailand.
Other locations include Italy, Ghana, Fiji, Argentina, Laos, China and the Middle East.
The geographical spread of the deaths coincided with the "global nature of modern Irish travel patterns", according to the department.
In a bid to increase protection for Irish citizens abroad the department is to publish a "consular charter" and establish on-line travel registration.
Mr Ahern said: "Exercising common sense, taking sensible precautions and obeying local laws and customs will help ensure that the vast bulk of overseas trips will be enjoyable and safe.
"I cannot emphasise enough the importance of obtaining travel insurance before travelling abroad."
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