Thirty-five individuals, including five minors, have been removed from Ireland and flown to Nigeria, in a deportation operation that cost €325,000, reports RTE.
The group comprised 21 men, nine women, and five children, all of whom had their applications for international protection denied. They departed Dublin Airport on a charter flight bound for Lagos last night.
The children involved were travelling with their families, reports RTE.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan stated that this marked the third time a charter flight was used, and described the €324,714 expense as “value for money”.
He said the expenditure covered the “difficult and challenging job” undertaken by An Garda Síochána, Department of Justice personnel, and prison staff who escorted those being deported, reports RTE.
During an appearance on RTÉ’s News at One, he explained that the cost was in line with what is typically expected for such commercial and charter operations.
The minister added that these deportation efforts deliver a strong message about upholding the law for individuals with deportation notices, emphasizing that the integrity of the asylum process depends on its enforcement reports RTE.
He noted that those sent back to Nigeria had already been served deportation orders and failed to comply, requiring the State to act.
Although he said he would prefer people to leave voluntarily, Minister O’Callaghan confirmed that deportation flights will increasingly be used as a solution, reports RTE.
“People need to know that if they are served with a deportation order, it has meaning, and the meaning is that you are not entitled to stay in Ireland,” Minister O’Callaghan said.
“If it is the case that you’re not permitted to stay – whether you’ve overstayed your work visa or haven’t been granted asylum – there must be a consequence,” reports RTE.
He mentioned that although the flight had to divert unexpectedly due to a medical situation onboard, the issue was resolved, and all 35 individuals landed in Nigeria this morning.
Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy stated that every person denied asylum is subject to follow-up, and that most are expected to leave on their own.
“You’re given an opportunity to voluntarily return. We actually encourage people to do that but once you’re served with a deportation order, you must leave,” he said, reports RTE.
Asked about tracking individuals after deportation orders are issued, Minister Brophy stressed that voluntary departure is the preferred route.
“We encourage voluntary returns. Once you’re served a deportation notice, we will ask you to leave because you’re supposed to leave,” he said, reports RTE.
“If you do not leave, we now have deportation flights, which enable us to make this extra stage.”
Although Nigeria is not listed among designated safe countries, Minister Brophy said that safety reviews are conducted before deportations, reports RTE.
“We do an evaluation before that flight takes off, that it is safe for them to return,” he said.
This flight was the third such operation since Ireland resumed using charter flights for deportations in February, bringing the total number of people removed via this method to 106.
The Department of Justice confirmed that more charter deportations will take place later this year, reports RTE.
According to the department, 2,403 deportation orders were issued in 2024, a 180% increase compared to the previous year.
It also reported that 1,940 deportation orders have been signed so far in 2024, with 888 individuals having already left the country through various methods, reports RTE.
In a statement to RTÉ News, the Irish Refugee Council acknowledged the government’s right to manage immigration, but criticized the heavy emphasis on deportation in the State’s protection strategy.
“Forced deportation is costly and ineffective. It pushes people to the margins of society and wrenches them from communities they have lived in – this includes the five children who were deported yesterday.
“We are also deeply concerned that individuals on deportation orders, including women and children, are at serious risk of destitution due to the sudden loss of various supports that coincide with the issuance of a deportation order,” it said, reports RTE.
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