Tunisia travel advice updated in light of security concerns
Tunisia travel advice updated in light of security concerns – Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan
Following consultations and consideration of the security situation in Tunisia, Irish citizens are being advised to avoid non-essential travel to Tunisia in light of increased security concerns, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan, announced today.
The travel advice has been changed from ‘exercise extreme caution’ to ‘avoid non-essential travel’,
Minister Flanagan said: “This morning, we took the decision to upgrade our travel advice on Tunisia to advise against all non-essential travel. This is the second-highest warning category on our five-point scale for travel advice.
“Since the brutal terrorist attack on tourists in Sousse on June 26,where three Irish citizens tragically lost their lives, we have been in ongoing contact with our international partners and relevant agencies to continually assess the security situation in Tunisia.
“We are now encouraging any Irish visitors to Tunisia to review whether their presence in Tunisia is essential and, where it is not, we are advising them to leave by commercial means.
“Following the decision by travel companies to discontinue direct flights from Dublin to Monastir earlier this month, we believe that relatively few Irish visitors are currently in Tunisia. Our Embassy in Madrid, which is accredited to Tunisia, will be notifying those Irish citizens who are resident in the country of the changes to the travel advice.
“I urge all Irish citizens travelling abroad to register their details with the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Citizens’ Registration site (Available HERE ) so that we can quickly provide consular assistance to them during an emergency.
“I strongly encourage Irish citizens in Tunisia who are not yet registered with the Department but who plan to remain in Tunisia to register without delay.
“We keep our travel advice under constant review and will continue to monitor the situation in Tunisia very closely.”
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Press Office
July 10, 2015