LAST UPDATE | 28 Feb

32 PEOPLE WERE deported to Georgia from Ireland on a chartered flight last night.

Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan confirmed this morning that the flight chartered by the Department of Justice had left Dublin for Tbilisi, and has since landed.

The operation involved the deportation of 28 men, 3 women, and a child who was on the flight with their mother and father.

The Department said that those aboard the flight had all received Deportation Orders from the State. They were accompanied aboard the flight by gardaí, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights observer.

The cost of the flight was €102,476, according to O’Callaghan.

The flight is the first operation conducted under a contract signed by the State last November for the provision of charter aircraft for deportations.

“Today is a significant start in ensuring that deportation orders are enforced and part of a more effective immigration system generally. There will be further flights scheduled in the future,” O’Callaghan said this morning.

‘Last resort’ measure

Former Justice Minister Helen McEntee said in October that the number of deportation orders signed in the first nine months of last year (1,792) increased by 140% on the same period in 2023.

The latest International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) report showed there were 2,992 people from Georgia in IPAS accommodation.

Georgia is one of a number of countries that Irish Government deems to be generally “safe”.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland, O’Callaghan said there are “pressures on accommodation” for asylum seekers in Ireland.

He added that he believes Irish authorities should inform people who are from countries that are generally safe, such as Georgia, that “if they seek asylum in Ireland, the likelihood is that you’ll be refused asylum”.

If you’re seeking asylum and you’re not entitled to it, don’t come to Ireland.

“There’s no time limit on the consequence of a deportation order, but they should comply with the law and leave the country,” O’Callaghan said.

Last night a flight chartered by my Dept left Dublin forTbilisi Georgia with 32 people who had previously received deportation orders.The flight has now landed & the people are back safely inGeorgia.I want to thank the Gardai & officials in my Dept for coordinating this flight

— Jim O'Callaghan TD (@OCallaghanJim) February 28, 2025

The Government intends to oversee an increase in deportation orders issued this year, according to O’Callaghan, who claimed that deportation orders “are up over 200%” so far this year.

“As of 16 February, 232 people have left under various mechanisms, including enforced deportations,” he added.

The Department said that enforced removals are carried out as a “last resort” measure, when the person concerned has not removed themselves from the State or availed of assisted voluntary return measures.

“Together with Minister Colm Brophy, I will be prioritising increasing all types of returns,” O’Callaghan said.

Tánaiste Simon Harris endorsed the move by the Justice Department in a post on social media this morning.

Harris said that a “fair and firm migration system must ensure deportations are effective and efficient”.

“If you don’t have a legal right to be here, our system must act and today is evidence that it is and it will,” he said.