Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 268: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if, in view of the thousands of Irish soccer fans expected to travel to Georgia and Montenegro in September 2008, his Department officials have had discussions with their counterparts in the respective countries regarding visa applications, consular arrangements and overall security for visitors expected to travel to the games. [17777/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department works closely with Irish sporting organisations to ensure that our citizens attending major sporting events abroad receive a first class consular service.

In accordance with normal practice, I intend to have additional resources allocated to our Embassy in Sofia, which is accredited to Georgia, and to our Embassy in Budapest, which is accredited to Montenegro, to ensure that the best possible service is provided to Irish soccer supporters attending the matches in Georgia and Montenegro on 6th and 10th September respectively. In this regard, temporary consular offices will be opened in both locations for the period of the games.

The Embassies are in ongoing contact with the relevant authorities in the countries concerned and will be organising pre-match planning visits to Tbilisi and Podgorica in June. The Department's Consular Division is, as always, liaising with the Football Association of Ireland to ensure that it is fully briefed on our arrangements.

In addition to arrangements on the ground, our Embassies and the Consular Section are jointly working on a comprehensive travel advisory note for Irish supporters travelling to the matches. This will be available in due course on the Department's website, www.dfa.ie.