Almost half of those issued deportation orders in 2024 unaccounted for, says Justice Minister

32 people who were unlawfully in Ireland were deported to Georgia on Thursday night, 27 February on a chartered flight.

This was the first deportation operation to be carried out by the State under a contract signed last year for the provision of chartered flights for deportations. 

Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland on Friday, Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said that the 32 people deported on Thursday had previously received deportation orders. They were accompanied by Garda personnel, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights observer.

Georgians have been among the top five nationalities seeking International Protection in Ireland, despite it being declared a safe country of origin in 2018. 

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According to the most recent figures from the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), there were 2,992 Georgians in IPAS accommodation.

The Minister for Justice admitted almost half of those who received deportation orders last year remain unaccounted for while 1,116 did leave the country. 

He added that deportation orders have increased by 200% so far this year, with 532 orders being issued. 

Minister O'Callaghan said that the deportations on Thursday night were the commencement of the Government's pledge to begin deportation flights. 

He said: "All of them had previously been served with deportation orders, meaning they were in the State unlawfully."

The Minister said it is important that we have "an effective immigration system", and if those who receive deportation orders "don't leave voluntarily, we will enforce it."