Irish people stranded in Britain have reported long delays trying to get through to the emergency repatriation helpline set up by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Only Irish citizens who are normally resident in Ireland and international Irish-bound passengers who are transiting through Great Britain are eligible for the repatriation flights and ferries. People hoping to be repatriated must contact the Irish Embassy or the emergency helpline, the company instructs. Billy Stamp, from Wexford, is anxiously waiting to hear if his wife Margaret has gotten a seat on one of the repatriation flights this evening. After multiple attempts to reach the department, she finally got a text early this morning providing details of the repatriation flights.

Source: The Irish Times December 22, 2020 12:56 UTC