‘Arab Spring’ ups work for embassies

EARTHQUAKES in New Zealand and Japan as well as conflicts in Egypt, Libya, Syria, Tunisia and Bahrain led to an “exceptionally busy year” for the Department of Foreign Affairs in helping Irish people abroad.

The department said most of the events happened around the same period and, in countries without Irish embassies, created “particular challenges”.

The department’s crisis centre and helplines were open to the public for a period of two months in February and March 2011.