Archive for February, 2009

First Passport Appeals Officer appointed

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

The Minister for Foreign Affairs has appointed Ireland’s first Passport Appeals Officer. The office was established by the Passports Act 2008, which gave those who had been refused a passport or had their passports cancelled the right to appeal.

The appointee is a former officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Hugh Swift. He has served in Irish embassies in three continents in his forty-year career. His appointment will last for a three-year period.

Read the press release on the Department of Foreign Affairs website.

Irish emigrants make 1.7 million trips home annually

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Irish emigrants make 1.7 million journeys home every year, according to Garret Fitzgerald. The former Taoiseach made the statement in an article highlighting the extraordinary nature of Irish foreign travel.

He highlights the following facts:

• In 2007, Irish people made 7.7 million trips abroad.
• Ireland attracts 4.5 million tourist a year.
• There are one million business visits.
• A total of 15 million round trips are made to and from Ireland every year.

Read the entire article on the Irish Times website.