Consular Conventions Act, 1954

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Personal immunity of consular officers and employees.

7.—(1) A consular officer shall not be liable, in any proceedings, civil or criminal, in respect of acts performed by him in his official capacity, which fall within the functions of a consular officer in international law, unless his government requests or assents to the proceedings.

(2) A consular employee shall not be liable in any proceedings, civil or criminal, in respect of acts performed by him within the scope of his employment and in the course of his official duties in so far as those duties are within the functions of a consular officer in international law, unless his government requests or assents to the proceedings.

(3) A consular officer who is a national of the country of which he is a consular officer and not a citizen of Ireland and not engaged in private occupation for gain in the State shall be exempt from arrest or prosecution except when charged with the commission of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a period of one year or more or by penal servitude.

(4) This section does not exempt a consular officer or consular employee from liability in a civil action arising out of a contract concluded by him in which he did not expressly contract as agent for his government and in which the other party looked to him personally for performance.