Thirty-nine people, including four women and five children, were deported to Georgia last night on a special charter flight after failing to comply with deportation orders, reports RTE.
They departed from Dublin Airport on a flight to Tbilisi, which arrived in the Georgian capital this morning.
The Garda National Immigration Bureau said that all children involved were members of family units, reports RTE.
This was the second deportation operation since the resumption of charter flights for removals earlier this year.
According to the Department of Justice, 2,403 deportation orders were signed in 2023 — a 180% increase from the previous year, reports RTE.
So far in 2024, 1,116 people have left Ireland through various mechanisms, including enforced deportations and voluntary returns.
Up to now, 1,386 deportation orders have been signed this year, and 647 individuals have left the country.
In February, another group of 32 people, including three women and a child, were deported to Georgia under similar circumstances, reports RTE.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan said he is “stepping up enforcement” and that “securing our borders is a central commitment of mine”.
“Swift and fair returns of people whose applications have been refused is the foundation of any modern rules-based immigration process,” reports RTE.
He stated that people who want to come to Ireland must do so through legal and appropriate channels.
“Removal operations send a clear message that our laws are to be respected and underscores this Government’s intention to protect the integrity of our immigration system,” Minister O’Callaghan said, reports RTE.
He explained that officials and gardaà were working to ensure that individuals served with deportation orders actually leave the State.
Mr O’Callaghan noted that more charter flights would be used going forward to ensure deportations are carried out more quickly and efficiently, reports RTE.
He also acknowledged the law-abiding Georgian community in Ireland, saying they play a valuable role in Irish society.
While charter flights are used for group deportations, the Government also relies on commercial flights depending on the circumstances.
These operations follow a contract agreed last November for the use of chartered aircraft, reports RTE.
The Government said forced deportations only occur when individuals do not voluntarily leave the country or take up assistance to return home.
“Before a deportation order is made, the person is offered assistance to return home voluntarily, this is the preferred option,” Mr O’Callaghan said, reports RTE.
“In addition to enforced removals, my department is achieving significant increases in the number of people leaving voluntarily and I am asking those who are given this opportunity to avail of it,” he added, reports RTE.
Voluntary return remains open to individuals without legal status in Ireland, including those denied international protection.
If someone opts for voluntary return, a deportation order is not issued against them, reports RTE.
In 2024, the number of voluntary returns jumped to 934 — a significant increase from 213 the previous year.
The Government continues to promote voluntary return as the best approach for those required to leave.
An Garda SÃochána confirmed it is working in close coordination with the Department of Justice to enforce immigration policy, reports RTE.
Minister O’Callaghan said Ireland’s international protection process is functioning as intended.
“If people come in and they apply for asylum and they get asylum they’re perfectly entitled to stay,” he said, reports RTE.
While speaking in Galway, he added there must be consequences for those whose asylum claims are rejected.
“The consequence is they have to leave the country. In most instances we try to encourage people to leave voluntarily. Where they don’t, I’m afraid we’re going to have to use the power of the State to enforce deportations. That’s what happened last night,” reports RTE.
He said the Gardaà had conducted a “good and sensitive job in ensuring that there were 39 people on the plane who had been served with deportation orders.”
Enforced removals, he said, would remain a tool used by the Government to uphold immigration laws, reports RTE.
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