TravelWise case studies
Teacher instruction: As seen in previous activities, the Department deals with thousands of consular cases, helping Irish people abroad in difficult situations.
In this activity, students will be presented with two different incidents where young Irish people require consular assistance abroad. For each case, students will be asked what actions they would take in each scenario, and what, if anything, could have been done to prevent each incident.
Test your travel wisdom
Having had an overview of what consular assistance involves, and tested their knowledge with TravelWise Trivia, students will now be invited to tackle consular cases just like the staff on our Consular Assistance Team in the Department of Foreign Affairs.
Students will be presented with two scenarios, presented by Consular Assistance staff in the videos below.
The class should be split into groups small enough to discuss thoroughly each of the scenarios presented.
After the first case video, each group can present their assessment of each case and should outline what they would do if they were working in the Embassy and dealing with each incident. They should also present on what precautions, if any, both citizens could have taken.
They will then be shown the second case video from Department staff who will then reveal their views on (i) what the Embassy would have done to help both citizens and, (ii) what both citizens could have done to avoid the scenarios they now find themselves in.
Context: Both cases involve members of a travelling group of 10 citizens in Ibiza on a post Leaving Cert holiday. They are due to fly back to Ireland five days after both cases are raised.
Case Study A: David Lynch, 19, Newry, Armagh
The Embassy of Ireland in Madrid has received notification from Spanish police of the arrest of David Lynch, Irish citizen, due to allegations of drunk and disorderly and destruction of property.
The Spanish police claim that David went to an Irish pub to meet up with his friends who were to meet him after wakeboarding nearby.
Over time, it is alleged David became aggressive and broke a window in the pub, resulting in his arrest. David wants a call from the Embassy as soon as possible.
Watch the video to learn more
Case Study B: Aoife Keegan, 17, Navan, Meath
Lorna Keegan, mother of Aoife Keegan, has contacted the Department’s Consular Assistance Unit to inform us that her daughter has been in an accident whilst wakeboarding in Ibiza.
Aoife ran out of credit before she could tell her mother exactly where she is and what injuries she has sustained, but knows her friend Maurice is with her. Lorna is very distressed about Aoife and wants to know if she should book herself on a flight to Spain tonight.