Last year saw the highest number of deaths of Irish citizens overseas reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. More than one-in-five of all new consular cases in 2025 related to the death of an Irish citizen overseas. The overall number of consular cases dealt with by the department also increased for the fourth consecutive year. This does not include the ongoing response to assist Irish citizens caught up in a series of crises in the Middle East. Foreign Affairs Minister Helen McEntee said the safety and wellbeing of Irish citizens overseas is “central to the consular work of the department”.

Source: Irish Independent January 02, 2026 07:31 UTC