Pádraic McCormack (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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Question 91: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the manner in which his Department's Consular Crisis Centre will operate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3914/07]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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On 9 January last, I officially opened the Department's Crisis Centre which is located in Hainault House, 69-70 St Stephen's Green. The Crisis Centre is located in the same building as the existing Consular Assistance Section of the Department. In the event of a crisis abroad affecting Irish Citizens, the Crisis Centre can be activated within minutes during normal work times and within an hour over weekends or overnight.

The activation of the Crisis Centre will be made following an assessment by the Head of the Consular Division in consultations with the Secretary General and myself. The assessment would take into account a number of factors, including the severity of any actual or potential crisis, and the number of Irish Citizens involved or at risk.

The Centre, which has 24 work stations, has a standby team already of well over 100 volunteers. I am very pleased that so many members of staff have responded quickly to our request for volunteers. The phone lines will operate on a freefone basis. The Centre is also provided with video conferencing facilities connecting the Department with crisis centres and similar facilities in other EU countries, and also elsewhere depending on the location of the crisis in question.

The staff at the Centre will ensure that the Department's website is updated regularly and will in particular, carry all the latest developments in, and reports on a crisis. This will be an important tool for keeping families fully up to date about developments.