Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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93. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if an honorary consul to the island of Ibiza will be appointed in view of the increasing number of visitors from here that travel there on holiday that may require consular assistance during their visit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28287/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Spain is a hugely popular destination for Irish holiday-makers and it is a priority focus in terms of the consular work of my Department. In addition to the Embassy of Ireland in Madrid, and operating under the supervision of the Ambassador there, we currently have a network of ten Honorary Consulates across Spain providing services and support to Irish citizens. These are located in Malaga, Barcelona, Bilbao, Galicia, Alicante, Mallorca, Seville, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote and Tenerife. The scale of this representation allows the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to provide timely and high-quality consular assistance and services to Irish citizens over a wide geographic area both on the peninsula and throughout the Balearic and Canary islands. Our Honorary Consul in Mallorca has jurisdiction for the Balearic Islands, including Ibiza, and regularly provides consular assistance to Irish citizens who require advice or encounter difficulties while visiting Ibiza.

My Department keeps the network of Honorary Consuls under constant and ongoing review and, in the context of making recommendations for new appointments, the primary focus is on the welfare and interests of Irish citizens.

I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to monitor the situation in relation to Ibiza. If the deputy has any specific concerns or queries about any individual cases of citizens requiring assistance, I would invite him to make contact with my Department’s Consular Assistance team.

As we move into the peak holiday season, I would also take this opportunity to urge all Deputies to do everything they can to support my Department’s efforts to promote safe travel overseas for members of the public this summer. We are encouraging anyone going on a foreign holiday to familiarise themselves with our Travel Advice for their chosen destination; to download and use our free smartphone app TravelWise; to ensure that they have appropriate travel and medical insurance; and, for those travelling in Europe, that they make sure to obtain and carry a European Health Insurance Card, EGIC. I would also encourage all Irish passport-holders to apply for and carry a Passport Card.