
<rss version="2.0">
	<channel>
		<title>English</title>
		<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=52150</link>
		<description></description>
		<language>en</language>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 May 2013 02:00:37 UTC</pubDate>
		
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Irish Consulate Sydney]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=88753</link>
					<description><![CDATA[     

WELCOME


Welcome to the website of the Consulate General of Ireland. I hope
that you will find this site a useful source of information on
Ireland, and the Irish Government’s representation here in Sydney.
If you are planning on visiting Ireland, there is plenty of
information and links here to assist you in making the most of your
trip.

If you are an Irish citizen resident in Australia, I hope that you
find the information on the services which we provide helpful and
informative. If you are one of themany Working Holiday Visa
makers who visit Sydney every year, enjoy your time in this
beautiful city. Please remember to stay safe and that the primary
responsibility for ensuring a safe journey abroad rests with you.


Should you require assistance of any description, the door to the
Consulate is always open and visitors are welcome.


Caitriona Ingoldsby
Consul General


Please note: With effect from July 1st
the Consulate is no longer accept cash payments. All fees must be
paid by money order or bank cheque.


________________________________________


St Patricks
Day greetings from the President Michael D. Higgins


________________________________________


]]></description>
					<pubDate>Fri, 26 Apr 2013 09:51:24 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[The Economy]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=79200</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
The Economy


Ireland is currently facing severe economic challenges and is
addressing these in cooperation with our EU partners and the
International Monetary Fund. Ireland had a period of extraordinary
growth from 1993 to 2007 and had become one of the world’s most
dynamic, innovative and globalised economies, with extensive
external trade and investment links.


In 2008, partly due to the open nature of its economy Ireland began
to feel the effects of the global economic downturn. Pressure on
the economy was significantly accentuated by the end of a prolonged
Irish property market boom and problems within the domestic banking
system. This led to a period of recession in Ireland and a sharp
contraction in economic output.


But Ireland is facing the serious economic downturn from a strong
starting position. Many of the strengths that drove our recent
economic boom and brought unprecedented levels of prosperity, with
growth and GDP per capita among the highest in the European Union,
remain in place. these strengths will position Ireland to take
advantage of the global economic recovery as it emerges.


Ireland’s economic success is generally attributed to its educated
and flexible workforce; its social partnership model, which
involves close cooperation between government, trade unions and
employers; government measures to ensure macroeconomic stability
and to attract foreign investment; and membership of the European
Union, which now provides a market of almost 500 million people.
Ireland is a member of the eurozone.


Ireland continues to be one of the most open economies in the OECD,
and exports are now showing strong growth after a slowdown in
recent years. Ireland has developed a strong entrepreneurial
culture in terms of new businesses being established.


Ireland has a strong track record in attracting investment in
Information Communications Technology (ICT), Life Sciences,
Financial Services and Globally Traded Business (GTB) including
Digital Media, Engineering, Consumer Brands and International
Services. Ireland’s positioning as a ‘smart economy’ continues
apace combining our innovative, enterprise economy with an
ever–increasing emphasis on the emerging areas of Clean/Green
Technologies, Services Innovation and Convergence. Ireland is also
a centre for digital media in Europe with major multinational
companies locating their European headquarters and a range of
business support activities here.



Top of Page


Inward and Outward Investment


Inward investment has been critically important to Ireland’s
economic development, providing tens of thousands of jobs,
disseminating technological know-how and expertise within the wider
economy, linking up with indigenous industry, boosting
productivity, and underpinning export growth. Outward investment by
Irish companies has increased noticeably in recent years, albeit
from a very low historic base. This emerging trend is consistent
with the pattern observed in other economies as they move to higher
stages of economic development.



Top of Page


Education and
Training


Education and Training is a vital component of Ireland’s
knowledge-based economy, and is a priority investment under the
National Development Plan. Ireland enjoys one of the best education
systems in the world, with approximately 1 million people in full
time education.


Top of Page


Innovation and R&amp;amp;D


R&amp;amp;D in Ireland has expanded dramatically in recent years
reflecting the Irish government’s massive injection of funding into
the sector. Leading global companies have found Ireland to be an
excellent location for knowledge-based activities. The young Irish
workforce has shown a particular aptitude for the efficient
collection, interpretation and dissemination of research
information.



Top of Page


Corporation Tax


Since 2003 Ireland’s corporate tax regime has been fixed at a rate
of 12.5%. This applies to all Irish corporate trading profits. A
rate of 25% applies to non-trading (passive) income.


Economic and
Social Research Institute
Central Bank of Ireland



Top of Page


Trade


Ireland’s total trade in 2009 was approximately €270bn; with a
merchandise trade surplus of more than €39 billion. This consists
equally of Merchandise Trade and Services Trade each of which stand
at approx. €130bn. The main merchandise goods traded include
Organic chemicals (mainly for the pharmaceutical sector), Medical
&amp;amp; pharmaceutical products and Computers. The main services
areas are Computer Services, Trade Related Business Services,
Insurance and Financial services.


Ireland’s main trade partners are the United states, Great Britain,
Belgium, Germany, France, Spain and the Netherlands.


Top of Page


Industry and Services


The Industrial sector has a highly skilled technological labour
pool. Within this high technology grouping, the most active sectors
currently are life sciences, medical and information technology
sectors. Many of the world’s leading companies have subsidiaries in
Ireland.


The service sector in Ireland accounts for approximately half of
GDP. Just under half of total Irish exports are services, and
Ireland is in the top ten countries worldwide for exports of
commercial services. Throughout the last decade output of services
has grown strongly, largely as a result of growth in financial
services, telecommunications and tourism.


Three agencies deal with industrial development in Ireland.
Forf&#225;s provides overall policy advice and co-ordination for
enterprise development and science, technology and innovation in
Ireland. Enterprise Ireland helps develop Irish-based
enterprise with the potential to trade internationally. IDA
Ireland has responsibility for securing new investment in
manufacturing and internationally traded services. It also has
responsibility to encourage existing Foreign Direct Investors to
expand and develop their businesses in Ireland.


There are also a number of regional development agencies such as
Shannon Development which was set up in 1959 to promote Shannon
International Airport, and &#218;dar&#225;s na Gaeltachta, which is the
regional authority responsible for the economic, social and
cultural development of the Gaeltacht (Irish speaking parts of the
country).











Department of
Enterprise, Trade and Innovation




Forf&#225;s




IDA
Ireland




Enterprise Ireland




Shannon
Development




&#218;dar&#225;s na
Gaeltachta




Intertrade Ireland




Science Foundation
Ireland




Foras &#193;iseanna
Saothair (National Training Authority)






Top of Page


Financial Services


Dublin’s International Financial Services Centre (IFSC), which was
set up by the Irish Government with EU approval in 1987, is
recognised as a leading location for a range of internationally
traded financial services, including banking, asset financing, fund
management, corporate treasury management, investment management,
custody and administration and specialised insurance operations.
More than430 international operations are approved to trade in the
IFsc, while a further 700 managed entities are approved to carry on
business under the IFSC programme.





Department of
Finance




International
Financial Services Centre




National Treasury
Management Agency






Top of Page


Agriculture


Of the total land area of approximately 7 million hectares (17
million acres), 5 million hectares (12.32 million acres) are
utilised for agricultural purposes (including forestry). Beef and
dairying are by far the most important sectors of the agricultural
industry. The main crops are barley, wheat, potatoes and mushrooms.


The Agri-Food industry makes a significant contribution to the
Irish economy. The combined agri-food and drink sector accounts for
6% of GDP, almost €8bn of exports and accounts for 133,400 jobs. In
particular, the industry plays a major role in the indigenous
sector.











Department
of Agriculture and Food




Bord Bia




Teagasc
(Agriculture &amp;amp; Food Development Authority)




Food Safety Authority
of Ireland






Top of Page


Fishing


The Irish seafood industry provides employment for over 11,000
people. It makes a significant contribution to the economic and
social fabric of the many small communities located in mainly rural
areas or small towns and villages around the 3,172 kilometres of
our coastline.








Department of
Communications, Energy &amp;amp; Natural Resources




Bord Iascaigh
Mhara






Top of Page


Tourism


Approximately 6 million tourists visit Ireland each year, spending
approximately €3.9bn, and sustaining more than 180,000 jobs.
Tourism Ireland was established under the framework of the Good
Friday Agreement 1998 to co-ordinate the work of the two tourist
boards on the island, F&#225;ilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland
Tourist Board.


Ireland’s successful tourism industry is built around the three
themes: Irish people; Irish culture and the physical beauty of the
country.



Top of Page


Radio and Television


The national radio and television service is operated by Radio
Telef&#237;s &#201;ireann (RT&#201;), the public broadcasting company which
transmits on two television and five radio channels. RT&#201; derives
its revenue from licence fees and the sale of advertising time. TV3
is a commercial broadcaster and there are many commercial radio
stations including Today FM and Newstalk. In addition to the wide
availability of British radio and television programming, satellite
broadcasts are achieving an increasing audience.


Irish speakers are served by a dedicated radio channel, Radio na
Gaeltachta (operated by RT&#201;) and by TG4, an independent Irish
language television channel.


The Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) was established in 2009
under the Broadcasting Act 2009, as an independent regulator for
radio and television broadcasters in Ireland. The BAI has a range
of objectives and functions and incorporates the work of the
Broadcasting commission of Ireland. the Authority is funded through
a levy on all broadcasters licensed in the state.








Radio Teilf&#237;s
&#201;ireann




TG4




TV3




Today FM




Newstalk




Broadcasting Authority
of Ireland (BAI)






Top of Page


Newspapers


Newspapers have been published in Ireland for over 300 years. Today
there are a number of daily broadsheet and tabloid papers, two
evening newspapers, and five Sunday newspapers. There are also
about 60 local newspapers usually published weekly and a wide
variety of magazines dealing with current affairs, economic issues
and leisure interests.








The Irish
Times




Irish
Independent




Irish
Examiner




Sunday Business
Post




Sunday
Independent




Evening Echo




Press Council
of Ireland (and Press Ombudsman)






Top of Page

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:56:14 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Ireland in Brief]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=79189</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
The attached booklet, entitled Ireland in Brief, provides a general
   overview of Ireland's political, economic and cultural
   life. While it is not possible to include every aspect of
   life in Ireland in this short publication, we hope that you will
   discover a little about Ireland and its people.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:54:24 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Ireland in Brief]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=79228</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
The attached booklet, entitled Ireland in Brief, provides a general
   overview of Ireland's political, economic and cultural
   life. While it is not possible to include every aspect of
   life in Ireland in this short publication, we hope that you will
   discover a little about Ireland and its people.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Thu, 25 Apr 2013 15:54:24 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Living & Working in Ireland]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=79222</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Practicalities of Moving to Ireland
A detailed guide can be found on the Citizens Information website.

Education in IrelandHere you
will find a description of theEducation system in Ireland and
also a series of links to information on Primary, Secondary and
Third Level Education.


Department of
Education and Science

Working
in Ireland
The rights of EU nationals and non-EU nationals for working in
Ireland.


Department of
Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Health Care
in Ireland
An outline of health care services in Ireland, including public and
private health care, and health insurance.

Useful Links for
Employment Seekers
A useful starting point for job seekers is F&#193;S - Ireland's National
Training and Employment Authority.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:37:57 UTC</pubDate>
		
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					<title><![CDATA[First time adult applicants/Lost and stolen passports]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=86563</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
With a view to preventing identity theft and the circulation of
falsified passports, additional safeguards are being introduced
into the passport application procedure for adult first time
applicants and for those adults seeking to replace a lost/stolen
passport. With effect from 17 January 2011, adult applicants
in these categories will be required to submit the following
additional evidence in support of their passport application:



a completed and suitably witnessed passport application form and
four photographs, (two of which must have the application form
number written on the reverse andbe signed byan
approved witness);



The Passport Service reserves the right to contact witnesses as
required. Passport applicants should therefore note that
where it is not possible make contact with those witnessing
applications then it is likely that the application will be
rejected.



the long form birth certificate of the applicant and a civil
marriage certificate, if appropriate, and evidence of entitlement
to Irish citizenship ,where applicable;


additional form of photo-identification; e.g.certified copy
of a drivers licence, work ID; student card; social club
membership; passport from other country etc.;


documentary evidence to show use of name, e.g. payslips; records of
unemployment or disability payment; bank statement; college
registration etc.; and


evidence of residency at the application address, e.g. utility
bills; official correspondence from public or private sector etc.



The above-mentioned should be submitted in original
format.


In addition, applicants may also be required to provide further
information and/or attend for interview at one of the Department’s
offices.


It should be noted that it will not be possible to expedite
any application in these categories.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Wed, 24 Apr 2013 10:14:17 UTC</pubDate>
		
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					<title><![CDATA[Useful Links]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=79226</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
A 
B 
C 
D 
E 
F 
G 
H 
I J 
K 
L 
M 
N 
O 
P 
Q 
R 
S 
T 
U 
V 
W 
X 
Y 
Z


A


An
Chomhairle Leabharlanna



Top of Page


B


Bord Bia


Bord Iascaigh
Mhara


Bord Scann&#225;n na
h&#201;ireann


British Irish Council


Broadcasting
Commission of Ireland (BCI)



Top of Page


C


Central Bank
of Ireland


Central Statistics
Office


Chester Beatty
Library


Citizens
Information


Council of
the European Union


Court of
Justice of the European Communities


Crafts Council of
Ireland


Culture
Ireland



Top of Page


D


Government Departments


Department of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food


Department of
Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht


Department of
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources


Department of
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs


Department of
Defence


Department of
Education and Science


Department of
Enterprise Trade and Employment


Department of the
Environment &amp;amp; Local Government


Department of
Finance


Department of Foreign
Affairsand Trade


Department of Health
and Children


Department of
Justice, Equality and Law Reform


Department of
Social and Family Affairs


Department
of the Taoiseach


Department of
Transport


Director of
Public Prosecutions


Documents in Irish
Foreign Policy


Drug
Treatment Board


Dublin Dental Hospital Board


Dublin Port
Company


Dublin
Docklands Development Authority



Top of Page


E


Economic and Social
Research Institute


Enterprise Ireland


Environmental
Protection Agency


Equality
Commission for Northern Ireland


EUCommon Foreign and Security Policy


EU Gateway


European Central
Bank


European Commission - in Ireland


EU Common Foreign and Security Policy


European
Ombudsman


European Parliament - in Ireland


Evening Echo



Top of Page


F


F&#225;ilte
Ireland


Fianna F&#225;il


Fine Gael


Foinse


Food Safety Authority
of Ireland


Football Association
of Ireland


Foras &#193;iseanna
Saothair


Forf&#225;s


Further Education
and Training Awards Council



Top of Page


G


Gaelic Athletic
Association


Garda
Ombudsman


Garda S&#237;och&#225;na
(Irish Police)


Golfing Union of
Ireland


Government of
Ireland


Green Party



Top of Page


H


Health &amp;amp; Safety
Authority


Health Insurance
Authority


Health Research
Board


Health Service
Executive (HSE)


Heritage
Council of Ireland


Higher Education and
Training Council


Higher Education
Authority


History
Ireland


Horse Racing
Ireland


Housing Finance
Agency



Top of Page


I


Iarnr&#243;d
&#201;ireann


IDA Ireland


International
Financial Services Centre


International Fund for Ireland


Intertrade Ireland


Irish Aid


Irish Aviation
Authority


Irish Blood
Transfusion Service


Irish Business and
Employers Confederation


Irish Congress of
Trade Unions


Irish Courts
Service


Irish Defence
Forces


Irish
Examiner


Irish Greyhound
Board


Irish
Independent


Irish Museum of
Modern Art


Irish
National Stud Company Limited


Irish Research
Council for the Humanities&amp;amp; Social Studies


Irish Rugby
Football Union


Irish
Sports Council


Irish Times


Irish Water Safety



Top of Page


J



Top of Page


K


 
Top of Page


L


Labour


Labour Relations
Commission


Law Reform
Commission



Top of Page


M


Met &#201;ireann



Top of Page


N


National
Archives


National Building Agency


National Cancer
Registry Board


National Centre for Partnership and Performance


National Concert
Hall


National Council on
Ageing and Older People


National
Crime Council


National Development
Plan


National Disability
Authority


National Economic and Social Council


National Economic and
Social Forum


National
Gallery of Ireland


National Library of
Ireland


National Lottery


National
Microelectronics Applications Centre


National Museum of
Ireland


National
Qualifications Authority of Ireland


National Roads
Authority


National Standards
Authority of Ireland


National Treasury
Management Agency


North South Ministerial Council


Northern Ireland
Human Rights Commission


Northern Ireland
Office


Northern Ireland Policing Board



Top of Page


O


Office of Civil
Service &amp;amp; Local Appointments Commissioner


Office of
the Attorney General


Office of the
Comptroller and Auditor General


Office of the
Data Protection Commissioner


Office of the
Director of Corporate Enforcement


Office of the
First Minister and Deputy First Minister


Office of the
Information Commissioner


Office of the
Ombudsman


Office of
the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland


Office of Public
Works


Office of the
Revenue Commissioners


Office of Tobacco
Control


Olympic
Council of Ireland


Ordnance Survey
Ireland



Top of Page


P


Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland


Police Service
of Northern Ireland


An Post


President of
Ireland


Press Council
of Ireland (and Press Ombudsman)



Top of Page


Q



Top of Page


R


Radiological
Protection Institute of Ireland


Radio One


Radio Teilif&#237;s
&#201;ireann


Railway Procurement
Agency


Referendum
Commission


Reach Unit


Top of Page


S


Science Foundation
Ireland


Shannon
Development


Shannon Free
Airport Development


Sinn F&#233;in


Special
Olympics Ireland


Standards in Public
Office Commission


Sunday Business
Post


Sunday
Independent


Sunday
Times


Sustainable Energy
Ireland



Top of Page


T


Teagasc


TG4


The Arts
Council


The Environmental
Information Service


The
European Ombudsman


The National
Theatre Society


The
Northern Ireland Assembly


The
Northern Ireland Executive


The Sunday
Times


Tourism
Ireland (Corporate Website)


Tourism
Ireland (Consumer Website)



Top of Page


U


&#218;daras na
Gaeltachta


United Nations



Top of Page


V


Veterinary Council


Visit
Dublin



Top of Page


W


Western Development
Commission


The
Workers' Party


Top of Page


X


Top of Page


Y


Top of Page


Z


Top of Page

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:01:58 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Useful Links Relating to Ireland]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=81046</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
A 
B 
C 
D 
E 
F 
G 
H 
I J 
K 
L 
M 
N 
O 
P 
Q 
R 
S 
T 
U 
V 
W 
X 
Y 
Z


A


An
Chomhairle Leabharlanna



Top of Page


B


Bord Bia


Bord Iascaigh
Mhara


Bord Scann&#225;n na
h&#201;ireann


British Irish Council


Broadcasting
Commission of Ireland (BCI)



Top of Page


C


Central Bank
of Ireland


Central Statistics
Office


Chester Beatty
Library


Citizens
Information


Council of
the European Union


Court of
Justice of the European Communities


Crafts Council of
Ireland


Culture
Ireland



Top of Page


D


Government Departments


Department of
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food


Department of
Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht


Department of
Communications, Energy and Natural Resources


Department of
Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs


Department of
Defence


Department of
Education and Science


Department of
Enterprise Trade and Employment


Department of the
Environment &amp;amp; Local Government


Department of
Finance


Department of Foreign
Affairsand Trade


Department of Health
and Children


Department of
Justice, Equality and Law Reform


Department of
Social and Family Affairs


Department
of the Taoiseach


Department of
Transport


Director of
Public Prosecutions


Documents in Irish
Foreign Policy


Drug
Treatment Board


Dublin Dental Hospital Board


Dublin Port
Company


Dublin
Docklands Development Authority



Top of Page


E


Economic and Social
Research Institute


Enterprise Ireland


Environmental
Protection Agency


Equality
Commission for Northern Ireland


EUCommon Foreign and Security Policy


EU Gateway


European Central
Bank


European Commission - in Ireland


EU Common Foreign and Security Policy


European
Ombudsman


European Parliament - in Ireland


Evening Echo



Top of Page


F


F&#225;ilte
Ireland


Fianna F&#225;il


Fine Gael


Foinse


Food Safety Authority
of Ireland


Football Association
of Ireland


Foras &#193;iseanna
Saothair


Forf&#225;s


Further Education
and Training Awards Council



Top of Page


G


Gaelic Athletic
Association


Garda
Ombudsman


Garda S&#237;och&#225;na
(Irish Police)


Golfing Union of
Ireland


Government of
Ireland


Green Party



Top of Page


H


Health &amp;amp; Safety
Authority


Health Insurance
Authority


Health Research
Board


Health Service
Executive (HSE)


Heritage
Council of Ireland


Higher Education and
Training Council


Higher Education
Authority


History
Ireland


Horse Racing
Ireland


Housing Finance
Agency



Top of Page


I


Iarnr&#243;d
&#201;ireann


IDA Ireland


International
Financial Services Centre


International Fund for Ireland


Intertrade Ireland


Irish Aid


Irish Aviation
Authority


Irish Blood
Transfusion Service


Irish Business and
Employers Confederation


Irish Congress of
Trade Unions


Irish Courts
Service


Irish Defence
Forces


Irish
Examiner


Irish Greyhound
Board


Irish
Independent


Irish Museum of
Modern Art


Irish
National Stud Company Limited


Irish Research
Council for the Humanities&amp;amp; Social Studies


Irish Rugby
Football Union


Irish
Sports Council


Irish Times


Irish Water Safety



Top of Page


J



Top of Page


K


 
Top of Page


L


Labour


Labour Relations
Commission


Law Reform
Commission



Top of Page


M


Met &#201;ireann



Top of Page


N


National
Archives


National Building Agency


National Cancer
Registry Board


National Centre for Partnership and Performance


National Concert
Hall


National Council on
Ageing and Older People


National
Crime Council


National Development
Plan


National Disability
Authority


National Economic and Social Council


National Economic and
Social Forum


National
Gallery of Ireland


National Library of
Ireland


National Lottery


National
Microelectronics Applications Centre


National Museum of
Ireland


National
Qualifications Authority of Ireland


National Roads
Authority


National Standards
Authority of Ireland


National Treasury
Management Agency


North South Ministerial Council


Northern Ireland
Human Rights Commission


Northern Ireland
Office


Northern Ireland Policing Board



Top of Page


O


Office of Civil
Service &amp;amp; Local Appointments Commissioner


Office of
the Attorney General


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Radiological
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Science Foundation
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]]></description>
					<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:01:58 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Pat Travel]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=79224</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Bringing Dogs and Cats to Ireland


For detailed information pertaining to this scheme, please refer to
the EU Pet Passport section of the Department of
Agriculture and Food. This contains comprehensive guidance and
should answer all questions regarding taking dogs and cats to
Ireland


Please note that there may not beregistered /approved airline
companies fromBelgium who carry pets.For approved
routes please see EU Pet Passport link above.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:56:56 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Consular Fees]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=52190</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Fees are charged for certain consular services such as issuing
passports and visas, foreign birth registrations, authentication of
documents and administering oaths. These fees are fixed by the
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade by way of Statutory
Instrument issued under Section 3 of the Diplomatic and Consular
Officers (Provision of Services) Act, 1993.


Please note that the fees charged for some diplomatic and
consular services will increase on 1 March 2013. The full
list of fees is available 
here (PDF 177kb) .


Please note also that there may be additional administration
charges when availing of these services abroad. Please check
with the Embassy which payment methods are acceptable before
sending any payments.


---------------------------





Gearrtar t&#225;ill&#237; as seirbh&#237;s&#237; consalachta &#225;irithe cos&#250;il le
heisi&#250;int pasanna agus v&#237;osa&#237;, cl&#225;r&#250; breitheanna eachtracha,
f&#237;ordheimhni&#250; c&#225;ip&#233;is&#237; agus daoine a chur faoi mhionn. Socra&#237;onn an
tAire Gn&#243;tha&#237; Eachtracha na t&#225;ill&#237; seo tr&#237; mhe&#225;n Ionstraim
Reacht&#250;il eisithe faoi Alt 33 den Acht um Oifigigh Taidhleoireachta
agus Chonsalachta (Sol&#225;thar Seirbh&#237;s&#237;), 1993.


Tabhair faoi deara, le do thoil, go bhfuil t&#225;ill&#237; &#225;irithe
taidhleoireachta agus conslachta ag &#225;rd&#250; &#243; 1&#250; M&#225;rta 2013. T&#225; liosta
ioml&#225;n de na t&#225;ill&#237; ar f&#225;il 
anseo (PDF 175kb) .


Tabhair faoi deara freisin go bhf&#233;adfadh t&#225;ill&#237; riarach&#225;in bhreise
bheith i gceist m&#225; bhaineann t&#250; leas as na seirbh&#237;s&#237; seo thar
lear. D&#233;an tagairt leis an Ambas&#225;id chun na modhanna
&#237;oca&#237;ochta &#225;t&#225; inghlachta a shocr&#250; roimh aon &#237;oca&#237;ocht a dh&#233;anamh.




]]></description>
					<pubDate>Mon, 15 Apr 2013 09:19:32 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Travel Advice]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=52227</link>
					<description><![CDATA[    
Summary


Australia welcomes thousands of Irish people on holidays and
extended visits every year. For most people these pass off
without incident and the memories are happy ones. However,
every year the Embassy in Canberra and the Consulate in Sydney also
deal with a significant number of cases where for one reason or
another, things have gone wrong. It is often observed in such
cases that with better preparation these incidents might have been
avoided altogether or their impact reduced. 


The travel advice presented here draws on experience. It is
intended to inform travellers so that they can do their best to
ensure that they have a safe and enjoyable holiday or longer visit
in Australia. It includes sections addressed at specific
groups such as backpackers and those coming with their families to
work in Australia.


The Embassy and the Consulate can help Irish citizens if they find
themselves in difficulty. Travellers should note that the
Embassy and the Consulate are not in general in a position to
provide funds to those seeking assistance.


The main elements that emerge from this advice are applicable to
all groups and individuals:


&#183; Take out
travel insurance;


&#183; Have
access to adequate funds;


&#183; Respect
visa terms;


&#183; Keep
passports safe;


&#183; Behave
responsibly;


&#183; Respect
local laws and customs. 





TRAVEL INSURANCE


Before departing for Australia travellers should take out
comprehensive travel insurance which will cover all overseas
medical costs up to and including medical evacuation.


A significant number of Irish citizens incur substantial medical
costs in Australia every year, often including additional costs
associated with travel back to Ireland. Without insurance this
places an enormous burden on families. This can be avoided or
mitigated with the correct insurance cover.


If the stay in Australia is extended, insurance should be extended
accordingly. It is important to check for any exclusions and
to ensure that the policy covers all the activities likely to be
undertaken. For instance, not all policies will cover all sports
activities.


A Reciprocal Health Agreement is in place between the governments
of Ireland and Australia. This Agreement provides for
free emergency care in an Australian public hospital for Irish
citizens. It is important to note that the Agreement only covers
people who are legally in Australia on certain visa classes
(student visas are not included). While this is important and
helpful, it is limited to emergency situations and is not a
replacement for medical insurance. It does not cover ambulance
costs which, given the size of Australia and the frequent use of
air ambulances, can be significant. It does not cover prescription
costs other than for patients while in hospital. Equally it does
not cover outpatient costs for follow-up (dressings, physiotherapy
etc) or cover medical repatriation to Ireland.


Further information on the Agreement is available here. 
http://www.humanservices.gov.au/customer/services/medicare/reciprocal-health-care-agreements


Those who overstay their visa may find themselves with no
entitlement to medical care at all, and could run up considerable
medical bills unless they have access to separate private
insurance.


It is important to note too in this context that holders of
temporary visas are not entitled to any social welfare benefits
from the Australian authorities. In cases where a person is
injured or unable to work for other medical reasons substantial
costs can be incurred that could otherwise be covered by travel
insurance.


VISAS AND ENTRY REQUIREMENTS


All non-Australians require a visa to enter the country – (only New
Zealand citizens can obtain visas on arrival). All others
have to be pre-cleared and issued with an Electronic Travel
Authorisation. Travel agents, the nearest Australian Embassy or the
Australian Immigration website can provide further details (
https://www.ecom.immi.gov.au/visas/app/uu?form=TV
).


The terms of the particular visa issued should be respected
fully. It is an offence to overstay a visa. To do so
will likely incur a sanction which can include up to a three year
ban on entering the country. Immigration law is very strictly
enforced. Visitors should be under no illusion on this point.


KEEPING YOUR PASSPORT SAFE


Australian law does not require people to carry a passport on their
person. And to avoid loss, theft or damage it is advised
against doing so unless absolutely necessary. A photocopy or
scanned copy of the biography page of the passport should be kept
in a safe place where it can be accessed. This will help in
providing identification and in obtaining a replacement if the
passport is lost or stolen.


If a passport is lost or stolen while in Australia, the Embassy in
Canberra or the Consulate in Sydney can, in emergency situations,
issue an emergency travel document or temporary passport on receipt
of a completed application, duly witnessed and with all supporting
documents and the appropriate fee. Proof of identity and
citizenship will be required, including an original or certified
long form birth certificate in all cases.


Again given the distances involved in Australia this may take some
time if documents have to be sent through the post. If the
loss occurs or is reported near to or at the end of a visit, there
may be no option but to change flights and incur the loss
associated with it. It is important therefore that if a
passport is lost or stolen at any stage during a visit that the
Embassy or Consulate is notified as quickly as possible. It
should not be left until the last minute.


Safety and Security


Personal Safety


Although safety levels for visitors to Australia are generally
good, the same precautions as to personal security should be
exercised as would be exercised in Ireland.


As with all countries there are areas, often in the major cities,
which should be avoided or where extra vigilance should be
exercised. Visitors should inform themselves locally as to the safe
places to socialise. Those looking for or staying in cheap
accommodation should be especially vigilant; the undesirability of
the area may be the reason for the apparent good value.
Certain ‘party’ areas in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth should be
frequented with particular care and sensible precautions should be
taken.


If a person is the victim of a crime while in Australia this should
be reported to the local police immediately. If further
consular assistance is required, contact should be made with the
Embassy or Consulate. Victim Support Australia also has a useful
website with numbers of local Help Lines listed by State
   http://www.victimsupport.org.au/
   .


In the event of sexual assault, the Australian Police have
specialised sexual assault teams, and many hospitals have dedicated
sexual assault units. There is also a national 24 hour telephone
counselling service for cases of sexual assault and domestic
violence – 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).


Personal Responsibility


As well as protecting oneself against crime while in Australia,
visitors have a responsibility to ensure that their own behaviour
is not such as would bring them to the attention of the
Police.


Contrary to the perception of Australia as a laidback and relaxed
country very strict approaches are taken by the Police and the
Courts when it comes to law and order. The laws on ‘street
offences’ such as public nuisance, drunk and disorderly behaviour,
and on common assault are enforced to the letter. The instructions
of Australian police officers should be followed immediately and
without argument.


A significant number of Irish nationals, particularly in the 20 to
30 age bracket, come before the Australian courts each year.
Sometimes there is an expectation on the part of defendants that
flexibility or leniency might be shown to a foreign national not
familiar with Australian law. There is no basis for such
expectations.


Safe Driving


Road traffic accidents are the most common cause of death and
serious injury to Irish visitors in Australia.


It is compulsory for drivers to carry their licence when driving in
Australia. Persons in charge of a vehicle should check the
insurance policy of the vehicle, especially if it is borrowed, to
ensure there is proper cover. Some ‘open’ Australian
insurance policies carry age restrictions and may cover only
certain drivers. When hiring a car and planning to drive on
unsealed roads it is essential to ensure that the hire car
insurance policy has adequate cover.


In rural areas roads may be unsealed and impassable after heavy
rain. It is a mistake to rely solely on GPS to plan
itineraries.


While it may seem obvious it is important to note that driving
while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is a crime in
Australia. Common sense should be used in avoiding dangerous
situations such as travelling as a passenger with a driver who is
under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Seatbelts are required by
law and must be worn at all times.


Driver fatigue is a major cause of death on Australian roads.
Drivers are advised to always carry water and to take rest breaks
every two hours while driving long distances. It is also important
to check the roadworthiness of the vehicle to be used before
undertaking long distance travel in remote areas. Petrol stations
may be few and far between and there may be a requirement to carry
an additional petrol supply.


Local speed limits are generally lower than in Ireland. They
are strictly enforced and hefty on-the-spot fines are applied.
Watch out too for signs warning of local wildlife which may be
present on the roads and can cause serious injury in a collision.
Particular attention should be paid when driving at dawn and dusk
when animals such as kangaroos are on the move.


Safe Swimming


The Australian surf can be dangerous with strong rip currents
challenging even the most experienced swimmer.


It is advised that travellers swim only on beaches that are
patrolled by lifeguards, and always swim between the flags. The
position of the flags demarcates the safest part of the beach to
swim. These are generally moved daily to take account of rip
currents or other hazards. However tempting a remote and
unsupervised beach may appear, there may be a very good reason for
the absence of other bathers. As well as rip currents some
areas may present risk of stings or bites from local marine life up
to and including shark attacks. Always check the signs and
pay attention to local information.


Never swim after drinking alcohol or taking drugs, and avoid
swimming alone.


Safety in the Outback


Australia is a vast country with great distances between many major
cities and centres of population. By definition, some parts of the
Outback are extremely remote and can present unexpected hazards. If
it is intended to travel to such areas, trips should be planned
with care, taking account of local advice on precautions to take.
In very remote areas relevant local tourist authorities or police
should be notified of departures, return times and return.


Many national parks have beacon locators that the authorities ask
hikers to take with them so that they can be more easily found in
case of emergency.


Mobile phone coverage, though generally good in towns and cities,
is often not available in remote areas. It is a mistake to rely
upon them or indeed upon real time internet maps if travelling in
the Outback or even in some relatively well-populated rural areas.


Health Issues


Visitors to northern Queensland, the Northern Territory and the
north of Western Australia may be exposed to mosquito- borne
diseases such as dengue fever and Ross River fever. Suitable
precautions should be taken and insect repellents and sleeping nets
used.


There have been reports of cases of Murray Valley Encephalitis
(MVE), a potentially fatal mosquito-borne disease, in the Northern
Territory and north Western Australia, with occasional cases in
Queensland, central Australia and the central regions of Western
Australia.


Local Laws and Customs


All visitors have a responsibility to respect local laws and
customs.


The Police in Australia are strict in their implementation of the
law. No flexibility should be expected in respect of speed
limits, parking restrictions or public order regulations.
What might pass in Ireland for friendly banter may be interpreted
in Australia as a refusal to follow the orders of a police officer.
Disrespectful language or physical contact, especially from people
under the influence of alcohol, is not tolerated.


Certain sites in rural areas may have particular importance to
indigenous Australians. Particular attention and respect
should be paid by visitors.


Climate and Natural Disasters


The Australian climate can be extreme. Drought in one part can be
paralleled by severe flooding in another. The north of the country
gets a wet and a dry season, and much of the centre of the country
is desert or semi-arid. While the climate is generally temperate in
the south-east and south-west corners, even here the summer heat
can be intense.


The weather between different cities may vary widely at certain
times of the year. If planning on travelling around Australia
it is important to stay aware of the weather in each place it is
intended to stay. Up to date weather forecasts for all areas is
available at www.bom.gov.au


The sunburn index is very high in Australia during both summer and
winter months and the country has a high rate of skin cancer. High
factor sun protection should be reapplied frequently and wearing of
a hat is highly recommended.


Bush Fires


Extremely high temperatures across the continent since late
December 2012 coupled with ongoing drought have led to fire
warnings for the States of South Australia, Victoria , New South
Wales and Tasmania. Visitors to these states, particularly if they
intend to travel through remote rural areas, should ensure that
they are aware in advance of the latest advisory from the emergency
services. Specific weather warnings are carried and updated
on the Bureau of Meteorology website;


http://www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings/index.shtml


Due to the dry conditions in many parts of Australia it is
important to be alert to the possibility of bush fires; to be
cognisant of local bush fire risk indicators; and to observe total
fire ban warnings where they are in place. Bush fires have
devastating effects and there are heavy penalties applied for
breach of the rules.


Floods


Depending on the season flash flooding can occur in many
areas. Floods in recent years have led to loss of life and
cut off whole towns and communities as was the case in the last
days of January 2013 in southern Queensland and northern New South
Wales.. Local warnings should be heeded. It is dangerous to
try to cross swollen creeks or other flood waters; their power and
depth may be deceptive.


Some unsealed roads (common in rural areas) may not be passable
after heavy rain even if travelling in a four x four. It is
important not to rely solely on GPS when planning a route.
Local advice is usually available and should be sought out and
heeded. 


Additional Country Info


BACKPACKERS


Thousands of Irish backpackers arrive in Australia every year and
for the most part enjoy a wonderful experience, with many of them
taking advantage of the Working Holiday visas currently available
for those aged between 18 and 30. At the same time, of all
the categories of Irish people visiting Australia, those holding
Working Holiday visas are most likely to require consular
assistance; to be arrested; or to be seriously or fatally injured.
Tips for backpackers based on practical experience are set out
below.


(1) Access to Funds


Australia is an expensive country to live in. It is essential to
bring enough money for food and accommodation particularly in any
period when money is not being earned. To secure
accommodation a deposit/bond will be required, as well as several
weeks rent in advance. Planning should be made on the
assumption that work will not be immediately available on arrival.
Even if a job is secured soon after arriving, first payments may
not kick in until the end of the month. Jobs may be scarce in
certain areas, necessitating a move elsewhere involving a flight
across the country. This can be expensive and airline tickets do
not come cheap. Temporary residents are not entitled to any social
welfare payments.


(2) Travel on a return ticket


Access to a return ticket provides the security of knowing that if
it is not possible to find work or for some reason such as sickness
or incapacity not possible to work for a certain period, or indeed
if Australia is just not for you, it is possible to get on a plane
and go home.


(3) Travel Insurance


All visitors to Australia are advised to take out Travel
Insurance. Experience suggests that backpackers are the group
most likely to need it.


Stolen handbags, lost luggage and minor injuries will all be easier
to deal with insurance – let alone the more serious medical cases.
The Reciprocal Health Agreement between Ireland and Australia
covers emergency cover in hospital but does not cover for instance
the cost of ambulances, medicines, physiotherapy or loss of
earnings. Access to health insurance protects against having
to pay large medical bills. In the case of medical evacuation to
Ireland following a serious injury, insurance will reduce or remove
the burden that would otherwise arise for the traveller or for his
or her family.


When choosing travel insurance it is important that it covers
sports or other activities that might be participated in while in
Australia. If planning to work on a farm, for instance in the
case of those seeking to extend a Working Holiday visa, the policy
should cover manual labour


(4) Do the Research


Before travelling to Australia take advice from those who may have
already visited previously. Australia is a huge country that
offers vastly different experiences in the cities, the Outback or
the tropics. Ensure you know what you are getting yourself into.
Ensure you know the cost of accommodation and the job situation
wherever you are going.


Have CV and references prepared in advance. Copies of
qualifications or relevant certificates should be to hand.


Those travelling on a Working Holiday visa are limited to a maximum
period of 6 months with any one employer. If you have skills and do
not want to be limited to 6 months in any one job, you may wish to
consider travelling to Australia on a different visa type. A number
of professional Australian government-registered Migration Agents
are based in Ireland. 
https://www.mara.gov.au/agent/ARSearchResults.aspx?searchforld=7&amp;amp;keyld=Ireland&amp;amp;noncom=&amp;amp;lprac=&amp;amp;FolderID=394


In addition there may be opportunities to travel to Australia on an
Irish State Agency graduate placement.



http://www.enterprise-ireland.com/en/About-Us/Our-People/International-Graduate-Programme.html


In some sectors, Irish qualifications may not be fully recognised
for certification/licensing under the Australian system. If
planning to work in a licensed sector check before travelling what
will be needed to get certification – it may be easier and cheaper
to do some of this research from home. Also for some trades such as
electricians, certification in one Australian State may not be
fully recognised in a neighbouring State. 
http://www.deewr.gov.au/Skills/Programs/SkillsAssess/TRA/ARTC/Pages/home.aspx


(5) A full and valid Irish driving licence


In Australia drivers who are not fully qualified face a range of
restrictions including lower speed limits than for fully qualified
drivers. Some jobs may require a full Australian driving licence
and some States may have in place requirements on the length of
time for which a full Irish licence has been held in order to
obtain a full Australian licence, without the need for an
additional test.


The police and Road Traffic Authorities are aware that fraudulent
Irish driving licences have previously been circulating in
Australia – especially in the Sydney area. Anyone presenting a
fraudulent Irish driving licence in order to obtain an Australian
one is likely to face prosecution which could result in a fine,
jail term and/or deportation.


(6) Drive safely


Too many Irish young people die in road traffic accidents in
Australia. If travelling long distances take a break. Never ever
drink and drive. Wear a seatbelt. Be responsible – do not get into
the car with a driver that you know is under the influence of
alcohol or other drugs.


If buying a used car make sure it is roadworthy. A national
Australian register NEVDIS is available where the history of a car
can be checked, whether it has been written off or involved in a
serious accident, or whether there is any finance owing on it. If
you buy a car with finance owing the debt will transfer to you as
the new owner. http://www.austroads.com.au/vehicle-registration/nevdis


(7) Socialise Safely


There is no shortage of good places to socialise in the major
cities in Australia. There is often a holiday atmosphere. But
it is important to know when to stop. Every year alcohol plays a
very significant role in a number of the deaths, serious injuries
and arrests of young Irish people in Australia.


There is recurring negative coverage in the media about anti-social
behaviour involving Irish people in Australia. Many of these
reports refer to excessive consumption of alcohol. These incidents
may involve only a tiny minority of backpackers, but unreasonable
and inconsiderate behaviour by anyone identified as Irish affects
the reputation of all Irish people living in and travelling to
Australia. A bad general reputation for Irish backpackers is not
desirable and can impact negatively across the board, in particular
on those seeking accommodation and jobs.


Australia has strict Responsible Service of Alcohol (RSA) laws and
it is an offence for a bar-person to serve alcohol to someone who
is intoxicated. If in a bar or other licensed premises it becomes
apparent to staff that a customer is intoxicated, service will be
refused and the person asked to leave. A security person will
escort the customer from the premises. There will be no
drinking-up time and no further discussion. If this happens, comply
with the instructions; do not enter into arguments or discussions
with security staff ; do not hang around outside trying to get back
in. Just go home.


Steer clear of any hint of trouble. Local courts take a very dim
view of drunk and disorderly behaviour, and street affray quickly
attracts significant police attention. If asked by the police to
move on from a bar or in any situation, do so immediately. Do not
argue. Do not use disrespectful language and under no circumstances
make physical contact with a police officer – any physical contact
can be construed as assault even if it is not intended in that
manner.


(8) Look out for your friends


It is important to remain vigilant even in a holiday atmosphere.
Keep an eye out for your friends. This applies in particular when
out at night – make sure everyone in your group has a plan for
getting home safely.


At other times too it is important to look out for your
friends. Mental health is emerging as an increasing
area of concern in particularly amongst those in the twenty to
thirty age bracket. If a friend is behaving out of character check
that everything is ok. Keep in touch with people if you think
there may be a problem and try to encourage them to seek
professional help. Some travellers, especially if it is their
first long-haul trip away from home experience isolation, financial
or other difficulties and may not know where to turn for
help. Excessive drinking, lack of sleep and the use of
illicit drugs can be a contributory factor and individuals should
exercise common sense to avoid potential problems.


Cases have arisen where persons who have been receiving treatment
for mental health conditions at home, discontinue their medication
when in Australia due to cost or other reasons. If diagnosed with a
mental health condition and planning to travel to Australia, make
sure to bring a supply of medication to cover the period until you
can get a prescription here. And even if entitled to a medical card
at home, the full costs of medication in Australia will have to be
met. Plans should be made accordingly for what may be a
substantial cost.


There are emergency support options available for those
experiencing mental health difficulties in Australia including
Lifeline – call 13 11 14 from anywhere in Australia for the price
of a local call.


If a person is experiencing difficulties of any kind, they can talk
in confidence to any of the Irish Welfare organisations around the
country:


Irish Australian Welfare Bureau Sydney - http://www.iawb.org.au/


Irish Australian Support Association Queensland, Brisbane -
http://www.iasaq.com.au/


Claddagh Association Perth - http://claddagh.org.au/


Irish Australian Welfare Bureau Melbourne – tel 03 9482 3865


(9) Swim Safely


Even if you think you are a good swimmer by Irish standards,
exercise extra caution in the Aussie surf. It is strong,
unpredictable and takes lives every year. Never swim after
consuming alcohol. To do so not only puts the swimmer’s life at
risk, but also the lives of friends, lifeguards or passers-by who
might try to save someone in difficulties.


Swim between the flags – they are there for a reason. Follow the
instructions of lifeguards. It is not difficult to get caught in a
rip current. Avoid swimming on unsupervised beaches and take heed
of local information and signage.


Wear sunscreen and reapply frequently. As many Irish people have
learned to their cost, sunstroke and dehydration can become serious
medical issues especially after over-enthusiastic exposure to the
Australian sun.


(10) Keep you documentation safe and in order


A passport will be needed to open back accounts, to apply for jobs
and possibly also to secure accommodation. It is an extremely
important document. Keep it safe. If a passport is lost or stolen
the Embassy or Consulate can provide a replacement only if the
appropriate documentation and fee has been provided. But this
may take several weeks.


It is strongly recommended that you do not use your passport for
day-to-day ID purposes. All too often passports get damaged
and lost from the back pocket of the jeans on a Saturday night.


It is strongly advised that you obtain some form of Australian ID
to use for banking and entry to licensed premises etc. A credit
card size ID is much easier to carry than a passport and if lost or
stolen can be replaced more easily, with less expense and without
affecting your passport record. Details on applying for Australian
proof of age cards can be found at 
http://australia.gov.au/services/service-task/apply-for/proof-of-age-card


Be aware of the conditions of your visa and its date of expiry. If
travelling on a first year Working Holiday visa and you want to
stay for a second year, make sure you do your regional work in good
time so that you can make your application for year two in good
time and in proper order.


Do not ignore the fact your visa is about to expire. Once a
visa has expired it has expired and there is nothing to undo the
fact. The holder has broken the law. Visas and the
consequences which flow from not respecting them are a matter for
the Australian immigration authorities. Immigration rules are
strict and strictly applied. Be responsible and be organised. Once
a current visa is over-stayed, it is extremely difficult to remain
in Australia by switching to a different one. If you organise
yourself sufficiently in advance there may be some options open.


(11) Do your farm work


If you want to apply for a second Working Holiday visa there is a
strict requirement to complete a certain period of regional work.
If you do not do the full designated period of time in a designated
job/area you will not be entitled to the visa - end of story.


The Department of Immigration and Citizenship is well aware of
false Australian Business Numbers (ABN) circulating and offers
being made of fraudulent documentation. Many Irish people have been
deported for this reason alone over recent years. Dishonesty in a
visa application or producing false documentation is visa fraud and
can lead to prosecution and/or deportation, and a ban on entering
Australia in the future. This could also affect any attempts to
gain entry to other countries.


(12)Have a great time!


The final rule – number 12 – is to have a great time in a wonderful
country with lots of opportunities, and with fabulous people, and
where Irish people have long received a very warm welcome. As the
most visible group of Irish people in Australia at any one time,
Backpackers have a particular responsibility to keep it that way.


IRISH FAMILIES


For those thinking about coming to Australia for an extended period
in a family unit, the most important thing is to research fully the
visa class it is intended to travel on, and get a clear and
accurate picture of what entitlements will or will not apply for
the employed person and their family.


It is important to take time too to research the State and city in
which it is planned to relocate. Issues such as childcare and
school fees should be attended to in advance.


The cost of living in Australia is high. Good accommodation in the
major cities can be difficult to find and very expensive by Irish
standards. This applies in particular in Perth, where there is a
significant shortage of suitable accommodation, with rental prices
reflecting the high demand.


Schools/Child care


There may be long waiting lists for schools and child care in
certain areas. It may be necessary to apply for places before
leaving Ireland. Take note that the Australian school year begins
in end January/February not in September as is the case at home.


In some States, notably New South Wales, temporary residents may
have to pay significant fees for public primary schools. Moreover,
temporary residents may not be entitled to benefit from Australian
tax rebates for child care expenses.


Medical treatment


Emergency hospital treatment for Irish people legally resident in
Australia is covered by the Reciprocal Health Agreement between the
two countries. This does not cover the cost of ambulances and
follow-up care. Temporary residents are not generally entitled to
Medicare (Australian public health rebate system) and as such may
have to pay in-full for childhood vaccinations and other medical
bills.


Temporary residents are not generally entitled to social welfare
(Centrelink) payments. The system is structured differently
in Australia so you may not be entitled to any child benefit
payments and even if you were entitled to a medical card at home
you will be required to pay for medical appointments and related
services in Australia.


DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR MISSIONS IN
AUSTRALIA


Contact details for all Irish Missions (including Honorary Consuls)
in Australia are available here





]]></description>
					<pubDate>Wed, 03 Apr 2013 13:49:05 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Email the Consulate General, Sydney]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=89396</link>
					<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:44:52 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Contact Us]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=52238</link>
					<description><![CDATA[




The Consulate General of Ireland, Sydney, was officially opened in
March 2000 by An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. The Consulate has
responsibility for passport, economic, community trade,
cultural and promotion activities within New South Wales. The
Consulate is staffed by two Diplomatic staff, and three locally
engaged staff.


The Consulate is located at


Level 26
No1 Market Street
Sydney 2000


The closest railway station is Town Hall. The Consulate is located
on the corner of Market and Kent Streets.


Phone: +61(2) 92649635
Fax: +61(2) 92649740


]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:39:38 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Passport\Consular Fees]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=89356</link>
					<description><![CDATA[   
The current Passport &amp;amp; Consular Fees charged by the Consulate
General of Ireland in Sydney are available here. 
Consular Fees (PDF 185kb) - 
Passport Fees (PDF 264kb) .

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:35:09 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Authentication of Documents]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=89357</link>
					<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:29:16 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Citizenship through the Foreign Births Register]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=89354</link>
					<description><![CDATA[   
To make an application for a Foreign Birth Registration,
   click
   here to be re-directed to the N&#225;isi&#250;n Online Application
   System. Please read the information below carefully before
   making an application.


A person born abroad to a parent who, although not born in Ireland,
was otherwise an Irish citizen at the time of the person’s birth,
can become an Irish citizen by applying for Foreign Births
Registration (FBR).


The Consulate in Sydney deals with FBR applications and queries
from people resident in New South Wales. If you are resident
anywhere else in Australia, please contact the Embassy of Ireland in
Canberra .


The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has recently introduced
a new on-line system for launching your FBR application called
‘N&#225;isi&#250;n’ (which means Nation in the Irish language).





BEFORE MAKING YOUR ON-LINE APPLICATION


Before you begin the on-line part of your application you should be
aware that the system will ask you for details about yourself, and
details about your parent and how they derived their Irish
citizenship. If you are claiming Irish citizenship on the basis of
an Irish born grandparent you will also be asked for details about
that grandparent.


It is very important that you have all of the above information to
hand before beginning your online application asthe
application must be completed in its entirety before you exit the
application- you will not be able to save a half finished
application so that you could complete at a later date.


The information you will require includes the following:



Your own personal details, including name as per you birth
certificate, details of any change of name, you date and place of
birth, marital status and your mother’s maiden name;


Details relating to the parent through whom Irish citizenship is
being claimed, including name as per their birth certificate,
details of any change of name,their date and place of birth,
marital status and the maiden name of that parent’s mother;


Details relating to the Irish born grandparent through whom Irish
citizenship is being claimed (if applicable), including name
as per their birth certificate, details of any change of name,
their date and place of birth, marital status and the maiden name
of that grandparent’s mother;


Should the parent through whom Irish citizenship is being claimed
be a naturalised Irish citizen, you will be required to provide the
date of their naturalisation and the number of their naturalisation
certificate;


Should the parent through whomIrish citizenship is being
claimed be an Irish citizen through Foreign Births Registration,
you will be required to provide the date on which the Foreign
Births Registration was granted and the Foreign Births Entry Number
(these details can be found on the Foreign Births Registration
certificate);


Should the parent through whomIrish citizenship is being
claimed be an Irish citizen through Post Nuptial
Declaration,you will be required to provide the date on which
the Post Nuptial Declaration was granted and the number of their
Post Nuptial Declaration certificate;


Should the parent through whomIrish citizenship is being
claimed be adopted, you will be required to provide the date of
their adoption.



TO NOTE WHILE MAKING YOUR APPLICATION ON-LINE


Before you being your application you must accept the Terms and
Conditions.


The online Foreign Births Registration application process may be
completed in either the Irish or English language. (Certificates
will be printed in English).


You must complete all mandatory fields which are highlighted in
pink.


Once you have completed all of the mandatory fields you should
select the ‘Save Changes’ button. You must at that point
either print your application form or save it in pdf format.


Once you confirm that you have printed or saved your application
form, you must select ‘Submit’ so that your application is viewable
to the Consulate and ready for further
processing.





DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED


Once you have completed the on-line aspect of the application, the
system will generate a check-list of documentation that you will
then be required to submit to the Consulate. You must sign and date
this checklist, and submit it with originals of all the
documents required plus 1 photocopy of every document
submitted.


Each applicant for Foreign Births Registration is required to
produce sufficient documentation including
originalbirth, marriage and death certificates and
other relevant records for him/herself and the parent, (and
grandparent, if relevant) through whom citizenship is
claimed to confirm the applicant's entitlement to Irish
citizenship.


It is absolutely crucial that you submit all of the required
documentation (originals plus 1 photocopy) as incomplete
applications cannot be processed and will be returned. The list
generated by the on-line system is not a ‘wish-list’ of documents
that we would prefer everyone to have, it is a list of required
documents. If there is a specific reason why you are unable to
submit a particular document listed, please contact our Citizenship
Officer at sydneycongen@dfa.ie before you
make your application.


Irish Birth, Marriage and Death certificates may be obtained from
the General
Registrar's Officeor at www.certificates.ie .


The Consulate and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
reserves the right to request further documentation in support of
an application for Foreign Births Registration at any stage in the
process and reserves the right to check the authenticity of all
documentation submitted.





SUBMITTING YOUR DOCUMENTATION


The form generated by the on-line system needs to be signed in the
presence of one of the acceptable witnesses (the form contains a
list of acceptable witnesses – no other witnesses are acceptable),
and the documentation required (originals and copies) should be
submitted to the Consulate as soon as possible after you make your
application.


Making your application in person means that we can check that you
have all the correct documentation. Our experience has been that
this can make things easier for the applicant, and we have an
appointments system in place.


To make an appointment please email the Consulate at sydneycongen@dfa.ie. FBR
appointments are generally made on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.
Given the length of time it can take to go through FBR
documentation and the number of other customers we have at the
public counter, we regret that we cannot accept FBR applications in
person on a walk-in basis at the Public Counter.


In general, we aim to process FBR applications within 3 months of
receipt of the required documentation. However, with the
high-volume of applications now being experienced, we expect that a
waiting list may develop for appointments and your cooperation and
patience are appreciated.


For those applicants who are not in a position to lodge their
application in person, applications can be submitted by post to:


Citizenship Officer
Consulate General of Ireland
Level 26, 1 Market St
Sydney, NSW 2000


All applicants need to submit two passport photographs duly
witnessed, a money order/bank cheque for the relevant
fee and a Registered post envelope so that we can post
the FBR certificate to you once issued. A list of our current fees
is available here . 


In the case of an adult applying for a minor, two passports photos
of the minor applicant, together with two passport photos of the
declaring adult, all duly witnessed will be required.





TO ACCEPT THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND BEGIN AN ON-LINE
APPLICATION


For further information on making an FBR application and to log-on
to the new, on-line ‘N&#225;isi&#250;n’ system please click here

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:27:56 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Passport Applications for Children]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=89363</link>
					<description><![CDATA[   
All children must have their own passport, it is no longer possible
to have children ‘added’ to parent’s passports.


Infants under 3 will be issued with a 3 year passport. Minors aged
3-17 will be issued with a 5 year passport.


In all cases (first time application or renewal) an application for
a passport for someone under 18 must be accompanied by their
original birth certificate, and the parental consent requirements
of Section 7 of the Passport Application Form must be duly
completed and properly witnessed. Requirements are very strict in
relation to children’s passports, in order to minimise the
possibility of child abduction.


Where an application is being made for a first passport for a child
born outside Ireland to a parent born in Ireland, we will require
the child’s original long form birth cert, the original long form
Irish birth cert of the parent born in Ireland, and the original of
the parents’ marriage certificate (if applicable).


All witnesses for children’s passports are verified by the
Consulate. You should ensure that your witness will be available to
take a phone call during office hours. If we have difficulty
contacting your witness your application will be delayed.


You must also ensure that the person witnessing your signature is
named on the list of acceptable witnesses, and that the parent
presents in person to the witness. We have come across cases where
‘to save time’ both parents sign the form, and then one parent
brings it to the witness. This is not acceptable and your
application will be delayed if the witness has not in fact
witnessed your signature.


All minors over7 years old must sign the application form.


Where a child is born in Ireland on or after 1 January 2005 to a
parent who was not an Irish citizen, further documentation as to
the parents’ residency in Ireland may be required. Click here for
further information.


Where both parents are named on the birth cert but circumstances
have changed and a parent has passed away or one parent has custody
of the child, an Affidavit of Sole Custody and original legal
documentation eg death cert, court order will likely be
required. Circumstances may differ between cases so if you
have any query about your own circumstances in this regard and want
to clarify exactly what documentation you will require please
contact our
Passport Officer , telephone 9264 9635.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:25:18 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Replacing Lost/Stolen Passports]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=89362</link>
					<description><![CDATA[   
With a view to preventing identity theft and the circulation of
falsified passports, additional safeguards are in place where an
adult is applying for an Irish passport for the first time or where
an applicant reports their previous passport as having been
lost or stolen.


These requirements are strictly applied.


You will need to submit:


A completed Application Form. Where the previous passport has been
lost/stolen you must get the Section 6 ‘Statement of Loss’
completed and signed by a police officer who must also witness your
signature in Section 9;


4 photographs, 2 of which must be signed on the back by the
witness;


Your original long form birth certificate. If you do not have your
original birth cert here in Australia a new certificate you can
source a new certificate from the HSE at www.certificates.ie or
alternatively a family member can present to the local Garda
Station and request that the Garda&#237; certify that they have seen the
original and fax the certified copy directly to the Consulate (fax
number +61 2 9264 9740).


Proof of your entitlement to Irish citizenship. In many cases,
where people were born in Ireland, the original long form birth
cert will be sufficient proof. However, if you are not born in
Ireland you will also be required to submit an original long form
birth cert for your Irish-born parent, or an original
FBR/Naturalisation certificate;


If any name change has occurred you will be required to supply
original documentation evidencing the change of name;


Additional form of photo ID eg drivers licence, passport of another
country, work ID, student card;


Proof of name use eg bank statements, payslips.


Proof of address eg utility bills, official correspondence.


The Consulate and Passport Office reserve the right to verify
documentation and to request further documents. Applicants may also
be required to attend for interview. It is not possible to expedite
applications for first time adult applicants or where the previous
passport has been reported lost or stolen.


In certain cases, the Passport Office may restrict the validity of
a replacement passport.


If you find an Irish passport, we would be very grateful if you
could please return it to:


Passport Officer, Consulate of Ireland, Level 26, 1 Market
St, Sydney, NSW 2000.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:23:00 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Applying for a Passport]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=89361</link>
					<description><![CDATA[   
The Passport Office at the Consulate is open to the public 5 days a
week between the hours of 10.30- 13.00 and 14.00- 16.00. Passport
applications are accepted in person at the counter or by post. If
you choose to post your application we recommend that you use
registered mail or a reputable courier service. The Consulate
cannot be held responsible for applications or documents lost in
transit.


All applicants are required to include a pre-paid self-addressed
domestic registered post envelope with their application so that
the new passport can be posted back to you. (Please make sure the
envelope is for domestic registered post not international).


The Consulate processes applications from people living in New
South Wales. If you are living elsewhere in Australia your passport
application should be made through the Embassy of Ireland in
Canberra, and they will also deal with any queries you may have.
The Embassy can be contacted on 02 6214 0000.





Complete a Passport Form


In order to apply for an Irish passport, whether you are renewing a
passport or applying for the first time, you must complete a
Passport Application Form. For the moment these forms cannot be
downloaded from the web or completed on-line, therefore you must
complete a hard copy form.


If you are in New South Wales, Application Forms are available from
the Consulate. If you would like us to post you a form, please
email
us or phone us on 9264 9635. Our phone lines can be very
busy at certain times throughout the day, but if you leave a
voicemail requesting a form and giving your name and address
clearly we will have a form out to you in the next post. The
Irish Australian Welfare Bureau, Wellington St, Bondi also has a
supply of blank forms.


The Application Form will be accompanied by a cover sheet that has
been designed to assist you filling in the form correctly. Please
refer to those Guidelines as you are completing the various
sections of the form. 5 minutes spent reading those Guidelines and
ensuring that you fill in the form completely and correctly will
reduce the time it takes for your passport to be processed.


From time to time people come to our attention having sent their
passport applications back to Dublin directly as they believe this
will be quicker. The quickest and easiest way for someone in NSW to
apply for a passport is through the Consulate using an APS 2 form.
A different form is used by people living in Ireland, and any APS 2
form that is sent to Dublin from a person with an address in NSW
will be sent back out to us for processing, so in fact sending your
application to Dublin will result in your application taking longer
than if you had followed procedures and applied through the
Consulate.


Supply the Required Documentation


The Guideline sheet that accompanies the Application Form will
inform you about the documentation you need to submit with your
completed application form. Please read those Guidelines and submit
the required documentation. We are not in a position to process a
passport application until we have the correct documentation, so
submitting incorrect or incomplete documentation will result in
your passport taking longer than it should.


If your application is a standard adult renewal ie you are
over 18 and simply replacing a valid Passport that is still in your
possession, in general all you need to submit is the completed
application, your current passport, the photographs, the fee and a
registered post envelope. Your old passport will be cancelled and
returned to you along with the new passport.


If you are a first time adult applicant, you will be
required to submit original documentation demonstrating your
entitlement to Irish citizenship, evidence of your identity and
proof of your address. These requirements are similar to those who
have had their passport lost/stolen. In addition to the general
information on this page, please proceed to the Lost/Stolen Passports
page.


If your previous passport has been lost or stolen, you will have to
submit additional documentation to prove your Irish citizenship and
your identity. In addition to the general information on this page,
please proceed to the Lost/Stolen Passports page for further
information if you find yourself in these circumstances.


In the case of passports for people under-18, the original long
form birth certificate is required in all cases even a standard
renewal. In additional to the general information on this page,
please proceed to the Passports for
Under-18s page for further information.


In all cases, the Consulate and the Passport Office in Dublin
reserve the right to verify documentation submitted and/or to
request additional documentation at any time.


Passport Photographs


The Guidelines sheet supplied with the Passport Application Form
includes information about the photo requirements. Problems with
your photos will delay your application. The passport photo
requirements are very strictly applied as the biometric records in
the passport are derived from the photographs. If the photos are
not the right size or of bad quality the biometric information
cannot be recorded and a passport cannot issue.


It should be noted that the Irish passport photo requirements are
slightly different to the Australian passport photo requirements.


Four identical, recent passport photos are required and two of
these must be signed on the back by your witness.





Passport Fees


Passport applicants can pay by credit card (payment processed by
the Passport Office in Dublin). Or locally by bank cheque of money
order. Bank cheques/money orders should be made payable to the
Consulate General of Ireland. For security reasons we cannot accept
cash or personal cheques. A list of our current fees is available
here


Witnesses


All applicants must sign the form on front of a witness and have
the witness sign the Confirmation of Identity Section (Section 9).
Both the Guidelines and the Application Form itself give a list of
people who can validly be witnesses for this purpose. Submitting a
form with a witness other than those listed will result in a delay
in your form. Consular staff are not in a position to witness forms
here at the office. The witness should also stamp the form – if a
stamp is not available please include a business card for the
witness with your application.


The Consulate reserves the right to verify witnesses. In order to
avoid a delay to your application you should ensure that your
witness will be available to take a phone call during office hours.


All applicants from age 7 up must sign the application form. In the
case of applications for under-8s a parent must sign in the
appropriate box.


If your previous passport is Lost/Stolen you will need to report
the matter to the Police, and the same police officer should sign
both Section 6 and the Section 9 Confirmation of Identity.
Applications submitted in these circumstances with different
witnesses for Section 6 and Section 9 may need to be resubmitted
and your passport will be delayed as a result.





PROCESSING TIMES


All complete applications are processed as quickly as possible. For
most of the year applicants in Sydney receive their new passport
back within 6-8 weeks. However, all Irish standard passports are
produced at the Passport Office in Dublin, so the processing time
for Sydney applications depends not only on the volume of
applications being received in Sydney, but also the volume being
received in Dublin. During the Irish summer months (May to
September) the Passport Office can experience huge volumes of
applications and the process takes longer.


If you are planning upcoming travel, please let us know when you
are applying for your passport. We do our best to facilitate
people’s travel plans, but as everyone will appreciate at busy
times of the year many of our customers will have travel plans and
those who have given us the most notice will be prioritised. In
some cases where people haven’t given themselves sufficient time
and there are no extenuating circumstances they may have to change
their flights.


If you are aware that your passport is out of date or has been lost
or stolen we recommend that you apply immediately, before you have
any plans to travel. That way you have sufficient time before you
would need to travel.


You should also be aware that many airlines insist on passengers
having 6 months validity remaining on their passport before they
will permit them to fly. Check that you have 6 months validity from
your planned date of return or you could be caught out and lose
your flights. We recommend that anyone whose passport expires any
time within the next 12 months should begin getting their
application together so that they have plenty of time to make a
complete application and are not caught out by the 6 month validity
requirement whenever they might need to fly at short notice.





VALIDITY


Standard adult passports are issued for 10 years. In certain cases
eg where a number of previous passports have been reported lost or
stolen, the Passport Office may restrict the validity of a
replacement passport.


Infants (up to age 3) are issued with a 3 year passport. Minors
3-17 are issued with a 5 year passport.





PASSPORT TRACKING


Each application form has a unique bar code number. If you take
note of that number you can track your
application . However, applicants should note that the
tracking is not operative immediately and is only activated once
the Passport Office in Dublin begins to check your application. In
the busiest months there may be several weeks before an application
being lodged in Sydney and the tracking becoming operative – this
is not a cause for concern in the first few weeks, rather the
application is simply waiting in a queue to be processed. You can
rest assured that your application will be put on the system in
Sydney as quickly as possible – just because you can’t track it yet
doesn’t mean that nothing is happening!


Please note that once the tracker notes the passport as
‘dispatched’ you should allow a further week for it to arrive back
to Australia. Passports are posted out to customers without delay
after they are received at the Consulate.





EMERGENCY PASSPORTS


Under the terms of the Passport Act 2008, a Passport Officer may
issue an Emergency Passport where a person is not in possession of
their passport, provides evidence that a passport is required for
immediate travel and where there are circumstances of urgency in
relation to the application.


A decision whether or not the circumstances are such as to warrant
the issue of an Emergency Passport will be taken by the Passport
Officer in consultation with the Vice Consul/Consul
General/Passport Office in Dublin as required.


A standard application form and the requisite documentation will
also be required for an Emergency Passport.


Where there is insufficient time/documentation to issue an
Emergency Passport an Emergency Travel Certificate may be issued to
facilitate a one-way trip back to Ireland in urgent circumstances.


An Emergency Passport has limited validity and is not a biometric
travel document. Some countries (eg US, Indonesia, South Africa)
that ordinarily accept Irish passports without a visa, require a
visa on an Emergency Passport. If you are issued with an
Emergency Passport it is up to you to ensure that it is valid for
travel to your country of destination, to organise any visas that
may be required and to ensure that it will be accepted by your
airline.

]]></description>
					<pubDate>Tue, 05 Mar 2013 13:20:57 UTC</pubDate>
		
				</item>			
			
				<item>
					<title><![CDATA[Authentication of Documents]]></title>
					<link>http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=52188</link>
					<description><![CDATA[
Introduction


The Department of Foreign Affairs and Tradecan
Authenticate\Apostille documents executed in Ireland that are to be
used in other countries.Irish Diplomatic and
Consular Missions abroad can legalise documents executed
abroad for use in Ireland.

Authenticating a document simply means confirming that a signature,
seal or stamp appearing on the document is genuine.
Legalising a document means authenticating it for the purpose of
making it acceptable to an Irish court.

Authentication and Legalisation do not mean that the content of a
document is accurate or that the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Tradeapproves of the content.


_____________________________________________________________


Why do documents need to be Authenticated\Apostilled?


If you are going to use Irish documents overseas, for business or
personal reasons, you may be asked to have your documents
Authenticated\Apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade. You should therefore confirm with the authority to whom you
are presenting the documents what their requirements are with
regard to Authentication\Legalisation.


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What is an Apostille?


The 1961 Hague Convention abolished the requirement for Foreign
Public Documents (e.g. birth, death and marriage certificates,
documents issued by a Notary Public) to be legalised for countries
that are parties to the Convention. The Convention entered into
force for Ireland on 9 March 1999. For further information on the
Hague Convention please access their website.

However, countries that are parties to the Convention may request
the bearer of a document issued by a public authority to obtain an
Apostille from the Authorities of the country that issued the
document.

An Apostille involves the addition of a certificate, either stamped
on the document itself or attached to it. It certifies the country
of origin of the document, the identity and capacity in which the
document has been signed and the name of any authority which has
affixed a seal or stamp to the document.


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Documents we can Authenticate\Apostille


The Department of Foreign Affairs and Tradecan
Authenticate\Apostille documents of Irish origin provided that they
bear an original signature, seal or stamp from an Irish practising
public official or organisation. An Irish document means that it
originated or has been executed in Ireland. If a practising Irish
solicitor, Notary Public or Commissioner for Oaths is signing a
document they should state clearly what exactly it is they are
certifying in relation to the document. They must sign their own
name and not use a company signature.


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Examples of Documents the Department can Authenticate\Apostille
are:


The Department of Foreign Affairs and Tradecan
Authenticate\Apostille public documents which have been executed in
the territory of One Contracting State and which have to be
produced in the territory of another Contracting State.


Examples:



Original certificates issued by the General Registers
Office (GRO)


Company documents issued by the Companies Registration Office


Documents signed by the Chambers of Commerce in Ireland


Court documents, Powers of Attorney, and other Notarial Acts can be
Authenticated provided they bear an original signature, seal or
stamp from a practising Irish solicitor\ Notary Public in Ireland


Educational Certificates can be Authenticated provided they fall
within the National Framework of Qualifications established by the
National
Qualifications Authority of Ireland\are recognised
by the Department of Education.


We can also Authenticate\Apostille medical reports signed by a
doctor who is registered with the Medical Council of Ireland.


Garda Clearance letters confirming a person's details for Consular
purposes must be issued from the Superintendent's Office of the
Garda station where you last resided in Ireland. This letter
must bear an original stamp and signature of the Garda Sioch&#225;na.



An appointment is necessary for large numbers of documents and for
full foreign adoption dossiers.


Photocopies of DocumentsWe can
Authenticate\Apostille photocopies of certain types of documents
provided they have been certified by a practising Irish Solicitor
or Notary Public in Ireland. However, you should in the first
instance confirm with the authority to whom you are presenting the
document that a certified copy will be acceptable to them.


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How to get your Document Authenticated\Apostilled


Documents that have been executed in Ireland, and which are to be
Authenticated or Apostilled by the Department can be:


Presented to the Department at its Public Office at the following
address:


Consular Section
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Hainault House
69 - 71 St. Stephen’s Green
Dublin 2


or sent via post to:


Consular Section
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
80 St. Stephen's Green
Dublin 2


Documents sent by post must include the
following:
A brief covering letter stating your name, return address,
telephone number, you must state what country the document(s) are
for use in, and you must include the appropriate
fee.


Tel. (01) 408 2174
(01) 408 2322
(01) 408 2557
(01) 408 2576

For the Munster area:


Consular Services,
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
1A South Mall,
Cork

Tel: 021 4944765 / 021 4944766


Opening Hours:The opening hours for the
Public Offices in Dublin and Cork are as follows:
Monday - Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)
0930 - 1300
1430 - 1600

FeesA fee of €40 is charged for each
Apostille or Authentication. There is a standard fee of
€100 for a series of Apostilles or Authentications in
relation to inter-country adoptions. All Post Placement Reports
have a fee of €40.00


Please note that there may be an additional administration fee if
applying for these services from our officesabroad. Fees will
be notified on request.


Methods of Payment
This section relates to services available at the Department of
Foreign Affairs and Tradein Dublin and Cork.


Payment can be made by Cash, Bank Draft (made payable to the
'Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade'), Irish Postal
Orderor by Credit/Debit card.


It should be noted that all bank draftsmust be drawn on an
Irish bank or a bank showing a connection with a bank in Ireland.
Personal cheques are no longer accepted.


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E-Register Verification of Apostilles and
Authentications


The online electronic register enables you to verify the
authenticity of an Apostille or Authentication issued by the
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Ireland from 01
January 2013.


In order to verify an Apostille or Authentication, please
click here


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Legalisation


Irish Diplomatic and Consular Missions abroad can legalise
documents executed abroad for use in Ireland.


Administering oaths, affirmations and
statutory declarations and certifying copies of documents:


Irish Diplomatic and Consular Officers abroad are empowered under
Irish law to administer oaths, affirmations and statutory
declarations. They can also certify copies of original Irish
documents or translations. 


If you require any of these services, contact your nearest
   Irish Diplomatic or Consular
   Mission.


The fee for these services in local currency and methods of payment
will be notified, on request, by the relevant Mission.

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