Tánaiste warns students and young people about dangers abroad
By Cate McCurry, PA
The Tánaiste has warned students and young people to be aware of dangers when travelling abroad for a holiday, and to look out for friends.
Launching the Government’s Be Summer Ready campaign, which provides advice for people during the summer months and travelling outside Ireland, Micheál Martin urged young people to “make the right memories”.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs warned that the summer months can bring tragedy as a result of farm accidents, road accidents and water-based activities.
Mr Martin also said that wildfires were becoming more common.
Last year, the Department of Foreign Affairs provided consular assistance in more than 1,700 cases involving citizens of all ages, dealing with incidents including health concerns, injuries, deaths, arrests and detentions as well as lost passports and theft.
The Office of Emergency Planning launched a booklet containing information to ensure the public’s preparedness for the summer.
Mr Martin said he is particularly conscious that many young people will travel overseas this summer, some for the first time and some while celebrating having finished exams.
“Summer holidays with friends are wonderful moments of freedom and adventure and treasured lifelong memories can be made,” Mr Martin said.
“However, activities that would be normal at home can present additional dangers abroad. That is why my department will launch a summer travel campaign for young people later this month with the theme ‘make the right memories’.
“The aim is to help ensure that everyone, especially young people, consider the safety and well being of themselves and their friends when travelling abroad.
“Huge work goes into studying for exams, and it is perfectly natural that young people wish to relax and enjoy themselves afterwards.
“Making the right memories just means looking out for each other while celebrating and ensuring you all look back on a time away together with smiles on your faces.
“So we will be promoting simple, smart steps over the coming weeks to make the right memories.
“Things like keeping phones charged to show live locations with friends, including on nights out, staying in touch with each other and family in Ireland, keeping an eye on your drinks in clubs and bars and keeping soft copies of key documents like passports.
“Only swimming in designated areas and when it’s safe to do so. These may seem like obvious pieces of advice, but it is important they are reinforced.
“For those staying in Ireland this summer, I also want to remind everyone that summer months come with the increased risk of injuries and fatalities, from incidents on the farm, road accidents and water based activities.
“The risk of wildfire also increases over the summer months.”
Mr Martin said that staff working in consulates and the Department of Foreign Affairs have come across “traumatic cases”.
“Young people come face to face with very, very difficult and very sad and frightening situations, from death to sexual assault,” he added.
“We want people to look out for each other.”
Minister of State Jack Chambers said that in 2023, the Irish Coast Guard assisted more than 600 people, which resulted in lives saved or prevention of long term hospitalisation for lifelong injuries.
“Already in 2024, the Coast Guard has responded to over 500 incidents to date, and it’s gearing up for another busy summer period,” Mr Chambers added.
“Also led by the Irish Coast Guard, the Marine Safety Communications Group relates data in relation to incident trends on the water such as swimmers caught out by riptides, person surrounded by incoming tides, inflatables that have been swept out to sea or persons in difficulty in not having the right equipment to call for assistance.”