Over 380 Irish People Died Overseas This Year

The Department of Foreign Affairs responded to more Irish deaths overseas this year than ever before.

The Department’s Consular Assistance Overview for 2023 shows that more than one-in-five of all consular cases last year related to the death of an Irish citizen overseas.

In all, officials provided consular assistance to 381 families whose loved ones died abroad this year – a 12% increase on last year.

The Tánaiste Micheal Martin, 22/06/2023. Image: Eamonn Farrell/RollingNews

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said his department provided consular assistance to a total of 2,043 new cases last year.

“My department provides a range of help and support to citizens in distress abroad – from arrests to imprisonment, missing persons, serious injury, mental health difficulty, and sadly, death,” he said.

“The 2023 statistics show a consistently high level of demand for our services, including as a result of travel bans, mental health challenges and complications arising from medical and/or cosmetic procedures abroad.

“In response to the increasing demand for consular assistance, my department launched an updated Consular Assistance Charter this year, which sets out clearly the support the Department can and cannot provide.”

The department said it was also notified of the deaths of several Irish citizens as a result of medical or cosmetic procedures abroad this year.

It said it is continuing to provide Travel Advice on medical, dental, and cosmetic procedures abroad to help people make informed decisions before travelling overseas for surgery.