The Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan TD, has confirmed that chartered deportation flights have recommenced in order to enforce Ireland’s immigration laws. On Thursday, 27 February, a chartered flight to Georgia removed persons who were subject to Deportation Orders from the State.
This is the first operation conducted under a contract signed by the State last November for the provision of charter aircraft for these purposes. Further operations will be conducted as the year progresses.
Speaking on this operation, the Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, said: “A central priority for me and this Government is that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. People are entitled to have confidence in our immigration system and there must be consequences for individuals who refuse to leave the State when they are ordered to do so. We have a rules-based system for International Protection applicants. For rules to have meaning, they must be enforced.
“Today is a significant start in ensuring that deportation orders are enforced and part of a more effective immigration system generally. There will be further flights scheduled in the future.
“I want to thank the members of An Garda Síochána and my officials for their work as part of this successful operation. I am committed to making our returns system more efficient so that people who are not entitled to be here depart and do so swiftly.”
Charter flights provide an alternative to commercial flights and can be more appropriate in circumstances when a group of individuals are being removed to the same destination.
A contract was signed in November last year for the provision of charter aircraft for deportation operation purposes. Access to these services has significantly increased the capacity of An Garda Síochána to effect removals.
Enforced removals are carried out as a measure of last resort when the person concerned has not removed themselves from the State or availed of assisted voluntary return measures.
On this point, Minister O’Callaghan added: “When a person’s application for International Protection is refused or they are found to have no permission to be in the State, they are offered assistance to return home voluntarily. However, when this option is not availed of, they are liable to be deported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau.
“Enforcement and voluntary returns are a fundamental part of any sustainable modern immigration system. Together with Minister Colm Brophy, I will be prioritising increasing all types of returns.”
Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy TD added: “Chartered deportation flights will now form an important part of removing people who do not have a right to remain in our country. I welcome this operation and thank the Gardai and all the staff involved in its success. I look forward to now seeing chartered flights in conjunction with voluntary deportations, ensuring that we will have a firm and effective system in place to deal with deportations going forward.”
The people concerned were Georgian nationals and the flight left Dublin Airport on Thursday night and landed in Tbilisi, Georgia Friday morning.
The returnees were accompanied on the flight by Garda personnel, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights observer.
