Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Jim O’Callaghan confirms successful deportation operation to Georgia
- Foilsithe:
- An t-eolas is déanaí:
2025 marks the highest number of deportations from the State in over 20 years.
The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan has this morning announced the completion of a successful deportation operation to Georgia.
Deportation orders were enforced against 52 Georgian people who were removed by charter flight from Dublin on Monday (3 November) evening at 9:30 pm. The flight landed in Tbilisi at 2:30 am Irish time this morning.
45 adults and 7 minors were on board and the minors removed were part of family units.
This is the sixth deportation operation using charter flights this year.
Charter operations have significantly bolstered the capacity of An Garda Síochána to enforce a greater number of deportation orders and are among the measures Minister Jim O’Callaghan is deploying to increase immigration enforcement and strengthen Ireland’s removal pathways.
With today’s operation, this brings the total number of people removed by charter flights so far this year to 205. Additionally,146 people have been removed from the State on commercial flights.
This year will see the largest number of people deported from the State on charter and commercial flights in over 20 years.
Speaking on today’s operation, Minister Jim O’Callaghan said:
“Deportations play an essential role to ensure that our immigration system is not undermined, and that people follow the pathways already in place for legal migration. Today’s operation reinforces my commitment in this area.
I would like to thank members of An Garda Siochana and my officials for their continued work in conducting these complex and sensitive operations.
This is the sixth charter operation so far in 2025 and deportations and removals will continue for the remainder of the year. I would like to re-iterate that if a person’s application for international protection is refused and they are ordered to leave the State, they must do so. If they choose not to leave voluntarily, they will be forced to leave.
I am dedicated to strengthening enforcement measures and this is evident with over 3,870 deportation orders signed so far this year.”
Minister for Migration, Colm Brophy, added:
“Charter operations are used as a last resort, but are a key aspect of our removals process and play an important part in removing people from the State who do not have a legal right to be here. I would like to thank An Garda Siochana and officials involved for their continued professionalism when carrying out these operations.
I would like to highlight that the majority of Georgian people resident in Ireland are doing so legally, having entered the State though the various legal pathways available. They are welcome and contribute immensely to our economy and society.
Charter flights provide an alternative to commercial flights and can be more appropriate in circumstances when a group of people are being removed to the same destination.”
Minister Jim O’Callaghan concluded:
“The Government has a voluntary return programme available for people who have no legal status, or who have had their international protection application withdrawn or refused. This is the preferred option, and people can only avail of this prior to the issuance of deportation order.
I recently announced that people who were in the International Protection process before 28 September 2025, will be offered an increased allowance, for a limited time, if they leave at an earlier stage in the process. This aims to reduce pressure on the system from the high number of applications received in recent years. So far this year, 1,348 people have left the State by way of voluntary return.”
The returnees were accompanied on the flight by Gardai, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights observer.
Ends.
Notes
The department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals. 2,403 deportation orders were signed in 2024, which is an increase of 180% compared to 2023.
This year 3,877 deportation orders have been signed up to 31 October 2025. Additionally, 1,770 people have departed the State under various mechanisms (enforced deportation, voluntary return).
Voluntary return is an option open to people who have no legal status in Ireland including those who are refused International Protection. Where this option is taken up, a deportation order is not issued in respect of that person. Minister O’Callaghan recently announced that for a limited time, people who were in the International Protection process before 28 September 2025 could qualify for an increased reintegration grant, with further information available here.
In 2024, the number of voluntary returns increased to 934 compared to 213 in 2023. This is the preferred method of removing people from the State.
In 2025, six charter flight operations have removed 182 people who were subject to deportation orders from the State, and 23 EU nationals were removed on Removal Orders.
This removal flight was provided by Air Partner Ltd at a cost of €187,625.00 for a return flight. The total costs for this operation are not yet available as the invoicing process has not yet been completed.