Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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137. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for details on the selection of the human rights observer on board a deportation flight (details supplied); their organisational affiliation; their qualifications to undertake this role; if a report or similar from the observer will be produced; if the Minister will undertake to publish such a report if one exists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12463/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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It is one of my central priorities that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The removal of persons who have been refused permission to remain is an essential requirement for the immigration system to work effectively.

A person is only deported when all available avenues for appeal are exhausted. Deportation Orders are issued after a person has been offered the opportunity to return voluntarily, in most cases with reintegration supports to their Country of origin, and they have not availed of this option.

Charter flights will significantly increase capacity to conduct more enforced deportations and can be more appropriate in circumstances when a group of individuals are being removed to the same destination.

The Charter operation referenced by the Deputy took place in February and was the first charter operation in five years.

While there is no legal obligation to have a Human Rights Observer on board a charter flight, it is considered to be good practice, and a practice that my Department implemented.

My Department was keen to have an independent Human Rights Observer who was objective, neutral, independent and not have worked in, or provided services to the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Department of Justice or organisations that have directly provided services to the deportees.

My Department secured the services of a former senior civil servant from another government department to act as the Human Rights Observer on this charter. This person has relevant legal qualifications and wide, relevant, international experience, including in relation to human rights.

The Human Rights Observer has submitted a report on the conduct of the operation to the Head of Immigration Services Delivery of my Department; consideration will be given to the publication of the report in due course.