FLIGHTS OUT OF CHAOS

A SECOND flight will take off from the Middle East for Dublin today after a jet from the war zone arrived in the capital last night with 400 people onboard, the Foreign Minister has said.

- BY DANNY DE VAAL

Helen McEntee added she is "in constant engagement" with the airlines to see how many direct flights we can get.

After Israel and the US attacked Iran and Tehran's retaliatory strikes have sparked airspace closure and an emergency evacuation of tourists and expats.

Ms McEntee said 24,000 Irish citizens have registered with the department from the region. Speaking on Newstalk, she added: "A huge portion of that [number are] residents.

"They're very happy to stay there. But I do appreciate there are people who want to come home because this is a very uncertain environment to be in. It's very frightening for people.

"They want to get home to their children. They have small children there with them.

PANIC

"There are people with health conditions and reasons that they have to get home. I don't want to panic anybody.