RESUMPTION OF SERVICES AT THE PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN DUBLIN
May 1, 2020
Sa Lahat ng Aking mga Kababayan sa Ireland,
Greetings from the Philippine Consulate Dublin. I am here today to announce the phased re-opening of the Consulate office in Dublin.
The Filipino community in Ireland are over 16,000 strong. Filipinos in Ireland are fuelling the Irish economy, mainly in the healthcare and hospitality industries.
Since the lockdown in March, the Consulate has only provided consular assistance on an urgent basis. We have provided support for the escalating number of Filipino Covid-19 positive patients, we have offered guidance on the various pandemic unemployment financial assistance payments from the Irish Government and POLO / OWWA funds as well as food assistance provided by POLO / OWWA, we have offered assistance to Filipino nurses based in Ireland but stranded in the Philippines, and other assistance to Filipinos in distress here in Ireland. Sadly, we have lost a number of Filipinos in Ireland all in different circumstances over the past number of weeks and my office has been providing help to the bereaved families.
Today, following a briefing on the Irish Government’s plans to slowly ease the lockdown restrictions in Ireland and following direct consultations with the Irish Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Philippine Embassy London, I have decided to re-open the Consulate on a phased basis to provide essential consular services.
Myself and my team are now working on a structured plan to provide essential consular services in the Consulate Office in Drimnagh. Full details of this plan will be announced in the coming days once we secure the required PPE for the consulate staff.
As a large proportion of the Filipino community in Ireland work in health care and other frontline jobs, the Consulate will be putting extremely strict measures in place to ensure the safety of both the Consulate staff and those attending the consulate.
The re-opening of the Consulate will be by appointment only. Details of how to avail of appointments will be provided in the coming days via the Philippine Consulate Dublin Facebook page and website. Those availing of consular services will be given an allocated time and will only be granted entry to the waiting area 10 minutes ahead of their scheduled appointment. Face masks or other face covering will be required by all attending. There will be a maximum number of people allowed entry at any one time. Further details and restrictions will be listed along with the appointment booking system in the coming days.
Maraming Salamat sa Inyong Lahat,
Raymond Christopher Garrett
Philippine Consul a.h. to Ireland
