Ireland deported 23 male EU citizens, who had served custodial sentences, on a chartered flight to Bucharest today, Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan TD announced. The operation, conducted under the EU’s Free Movement Directive on public security grounds, saw the flight land safely this evening. This marks a significant escalation in Ireland’s deportation efforts, with 130 individuals removed on chartered flights and 137 via commercial airlines this year.
The move follows a costly deportation to Pakistan on September 23, which cost €473,000 for 24 men, and a June flight to Nigeria at €324,714 for 35 individuals. The Bucharest operation involved Garda personnel, medical staff, an interpreter, and a human rights observer, ensuring compliance with EU regulations. However, the policy has ignited debate, with Michael O’Keeffe suggesting “one million more to go,” while others question the financial burden on taxpayers.
Roma communities, potentially affected, face integration challenges, with 63.3% of minors born in Ireland per a 2019 NRNA study. Amid Brexit-related border concerns, Ireland has issued 3,035 deportation orders by October 3. Minister O’Callaghan emphasized the legal basis, though public calls for broader enforcement and transparency continue to grow.
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