Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, RISE)
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64. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the action that will be taken to ensure that Irish citizens are provided with all possible assistance by Irish embassies after citizens’ involvement in a car crash in a foreign country (details supplied). [46169/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides consular assistance to citizens across the world, in a wide variety of complex situations. In 2021, the Department managed over 1,200 new cases including instances of death, imprisonment, mental health and indeed car accidents. Consular assistance is provided in line with the Department’s Consular Assistance Charter, available at www.dfa.ie.

In instances of car crashes, the local Embassy or Consulate can advise citizens of local health supports, provide details of English-speaking local lawyers, contact the citizen’s family or friends, and remain a source of support in difficult circumstances.

In the specific case cited by the Deputy, the citizen required an Emergency Travel Certificate and was advised of the option of seeking in-person support at the offices of two separate Honorary Consuls in the country, or at the Embassy. The Embassy provided the citizen with the document required and provided advice on returning to Ireland.