Ireland 'cannot rely on goodwill' to rescue citizens overseas, security experts warn

French soldiers prepare to board a military Airbus A400M to evacuate French citizens from Afghanistan today. A lack of air transport capability in the Air Corps means that Ireland often relies in emergency situations on international partners or private contractors to evacuate Irish citizens. Photo: Etat-Major des Armees via AP

Military officers and security experts have again called for urgent investment in air transport to enable the State to fly to foreign crisis situations and rescue trapped Irish citizens.

It comes as Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said there were 23 Irish citizens in Afghanistan and that his department was working with 20 of them who are trying to flee the country.