Coveney says 15 Irish people seek to flee Afghanistan

Foreign Secretary Simon Coveney said his department was working on plans to get 15 Irish people out of Afghanistan.

Speaking on Monday, Coveney said there were 23 Irish – some with dual citizenship – in Afghanistan, 15 of whom wanted to leave.

Most commercial flights have been booked, but all commercial flights to and from Kabul airport have been grounded, so efforts are now being made to coordinate with other EU countries, the US and the UK to try to find ways out for Irish citizens.

Coveney, who appeared on Newstalk Breakfast and RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, also said Ireland had agreed to waive visas for 45 nationals fleeing Afghanistan, some of whom are already in Pakistan.