The Department of Foreign Affairs provided consular assistance to almost 1,500 Irish citizens last year for emergencies including deaths, arrests, kidnaps, and child abductions.
Figures released by the Department show that 2011 was an “exceptionally busy” year, with crisis situations in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain and Syria as well as earthquakes in New Zealand and Japan.
The Department provided consular assistance to the families of almost 200 people who died abroad.
It says by far the highest number of consular emergencies occurred in Spain, followed by Australia, US, Britain and Thailand.
Meanwhile, a total of 186 Adoption Dossiers were processed and authenticated by the Department, while more than 2,500 Certificat de Coutume to Irish citizens getting married abroad were issued.
