Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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182. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality how the State and the International Protection Accommodation Services verify that deportations are carried out by persons subject to such orders; if there is a verification process in place; if so, whether she will confirm the number of persons who voluntarily self-deported for each year from 2011 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50326/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that deportation and removal processes are an essential part of any immigration system. It must be acknowledged that those who do not have a legal right to remain in this country must remove themselves from the State. A person subject to a deportation order has no legal basis to remain in the State. Their case to remain in the State has been considered in detail and all available appeals processes have been exhausted.

When issued with a deportation order, a person is required to remove themselves from the State. Many people comply in this manner and leave the country, often without notifying the immigration authorities that they have done so. However, where a person does not voluntarily return to their own country, Ireland, like all other EU Member States, puts in place arrangements to return people to their home country. The exercise of powers in this area is at all times subject to the law and to respect for individual rights.

The gov.ie website publishes, on a monthly basis, statistics on Deportation Orders and Enforcement/Removals, where a person had a previous International Protection application. The Deputy will find further details at the link below:

www.gov.ie/en/collection/48a28-international-protection-in-numbers/.

The table below provides the number of persons who are recorded as having voluntarily self-deported in the years 2011 to 2023 (to 13 November 2023).

*Please note all figures are correct at time of issue and may be subject to data cleansing.

The numbers above do not take account of all individuals who have left the State. It is the case that many individuals who are subject to Deportation Orders leave the State without notifying the relevant authorities and this particular category of individual is difficult to quantify.

Any person subject to a deportation order is required to present to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). GNIB has operational responsibility for enforcing deportation orders. Any person subject to a deportation order is obliged to keep my Department informed of their current address. Where a person does not present to GNIB at a specified time and date they will be deemed to be evading deportation and become liable to arrest and detention until their removal from the state.