Carol Nolan (Offaly, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

1573. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the way in which his Department or any agency under the aegis of his Department verifies that those subject to voluntary deportation orders have left the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19497/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

It is a central priority for me that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that our people have confidence in the application of our laws in this area.

My Department has taken action to significantly improve immigration enforcement measures and increase removals. Earlier this year, a chartered flight to Georgia removed 32 persons who were subject to deportation orders from the State. Further operations will be conducted as the year progresses.

The number of deportation orders signed in 2024 (2,403) increased by 180% compared to 2023 (857). This year 1,386 deportation orders have been signed up to 25 April 2025. Last year, 1,116 people departed from the State under various mechanisms (i.e. enforced deportation, voluntary return etc.), an increase of 252% compared to 2023 (317). This year 556 persons have had their departure confirmed through these pathways up to 25 April 2025.

It is the preferred option to return people voluntarily and my Department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. When a person avails of a ‘Voluntary Return’ they are not issued with a deportation order. The individual can make their own arrangements to leave or can be assisted by my Department or the UN International Organisation for Migration, which my Department funds for these purposes. In both circumstances, returns under this category are directly verified and confirmed by the Department.

Individuals who leave by way of Voluntary Return are separate to those who have their departure confirmed after a deportation order is made against them. A deportation order is issued after the person is offered but does not avail of voluntary return. A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State; any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so is committing a criminal offence, and can be arrested without warrant if they come into contact with An Garda Síochána. Such an order remains on the person’s record permanently, unless revoked by the Minister for Justice – it means they may not enter Ireland again in future.

The Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) carries out inquiries to confirm that people have removed themselves from the State and works closely with my Department to enforce deportations where this is not the case.

An enforced deportation is where a person is escorted from the state by the Garda National Immigration Bureau. In some instances, a person deportation is confirmed by other means. For example, if an individual subject to a deportation order informs my Department they have left the State, my Department can confirm this departure provided they produce evidence that they have returned; this can include a landing stamp in the Country of origin with evidence of a flight booking/boarding pass.

In addition to the enforced deportations and those that are otherwise confirmed to have left, we know that a much larger number of people will have left the State without being escorted; however, as there are no routine exit checks at Irish borders, it is not possible to accurately quantify this number.