Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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274. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to reverse the deportation of an individual (details supplied) who has been unjustly separated from his family through deportation, before deportation proceedings had fully concluded, and despite the support of the elected members of his local authority for his remaining in Ireland. [38429/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to ensuring that Ireland’s immigration system is robust and rules based. The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively and to ensure that the public has confidence in the application of our legislation in this area.

A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State. If a person does not remove themselves from the State following the issuance of a deportation order, they will be removed.

I can advise the Deputy that the person referred to is the subject of a deportation order which was signed on 02 May 2024 and obliged the person to leave the State by 13 June 2024. As the person did not leave the State as instructed, their removal was enforced by An Garda Síochána.

This deportation order was enforced following multiple full assessments of the person’s individual circumstances by the International Protection Office, the International Protection Appeals Tribunal and my Department's Repatriation Division. I can advise the Deputy that this order was not subject to challenge by way of Judicial Review.

It is open to any individual to make representations under Section 3(11) of the Immigration Act 1999, as amended, requesting to have their deportation order revoked. My Department receives submissions from people seeking that this provision be invoked. In assessing such submissions consideration is given to whether there is compelling new information or material changes in circumstances which were not previously put forward, nor capable of being put forward, when the original decision was made. It should be noted that a request made under Section 3(11) does not suspend the enforcement of a deportation order.

I recognise that an enforced removal can be a difficult and challenging experience. This is why enforced removals are carried out only as a measure of last resort when a person has not removed themselves from the State. The preferred option is to return people voluntarily. My Department operates a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order. People are strongly encouraged to avail of this option, and are informed of this option at each stage of the International Protection process.