Irish consul will help tsunami-hit Thailand

The Government is committed to setting up an Irish Honorary Consul in Phuket, Thailand, Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern said today.

Mr Ahern said his department would press ahead with plans for the consulate to help deal with the devastating aftermath of the St Stephen’s Day tsunami.

Ms Fallon Wood, an Irish resident in Phuket, will represent the department and act as a point of contact for relatives searching for Irish citizens in the area until the consulate is formally up and running.

No date has been spent for the consulate’s official opening.

The Minister said plans for a physical presence in the region went hand in hand with the need for financial assistance for the thousands of stricken communities.

“The response to the disaster in Ireland and across Europe has been enormous,” he said.

“It is important that we now translate that response into a long term commitment to the region. The countries of the region face an enormous task of reconstruction, and we must do what we can to help.

“We have allocated €20m for the relief of the victims of the crisis – and are specifically targeting €500,000 for Phuket,” he said.

The Government last week appointed former minister of state Chris Flood as a special envoy to the tsunami-affected region of Asia.

Two Irish people have been confirmed dead in the tragedy. Conor Keightley from Cookstown, Co Tyrone and Eilis Finnegan from Dublin.

Two others Lucy Coyle, 28, from Dublin, and Michael Murphy, 23, from Wexford are still missing in the region. It is hoped the honorary Irish representative in Phuket will offer assistance and support for families attempting to trace their loved ones.

Mr Ahern said financial aid was focusing on immediate emergency needs of the worst affected areas, particularly Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

“As the emergency phase moves towards recovery and reconstruction, Ireland’s assistance will focus on strengthening national efforts,” he said.

“Generally our assistance will fund the provision of shelter and basic services. The rebuilding of livelihoods will also need to be an important component of our overall recovery strategy.”

Mr Ahern made the announcement ahead of tomorrow’s meeting with European Union foreign ministers in Brussels.

Representatives will discuss the EU’s response to the tsunami disaster and plans for longer-term follow-up aid in the region.

A draft Action Plan outlining steps the EU might take to improve its capacity to react to the disaster and similar crises will also be on the agenda.