'Staggering incompetence' - anger as just over 100 illegal immigrants have been deported from Ireland this year
The figure was made public by the Justice Minister Helen McEntee in reply to a parliamentary question from the Aontú leader, Peadar Tóibín
Just 103 illegal immigrants out of the thousands who have landed in Ireland without visas have been deported by Gardai so far this year, it has emerged.
The figure was made public by the Justice Minister Helen McEntee in reply to a parliamentary question from the Aontú leader, Peadar Tóibín.
It is however, a 100 percent increase on the 51 people who were kicked out by members of the Garda National Immigration Bureau in 2023.
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A total of 379 people were deported by the cops in the six year period since January 1, 2019. Deputy Tóibín claimed the number of enforced deportations is extremely low and only a shocking six percent of deportation orders issued are actually enforced.
The Aontu leader believes very few of the thousands of migrants landing in Ireland illegally are actually being tracked down and deported.
Deputy Toibin said: "This staggering incompetence is putting pressure on scarce resources and sending a message out internationally that Ireland does not enforce immigration law."
Minister McEntee revealed 2,373 illegal immigrants were deported from or left Ireland voluntarily between 2019 and November 1 last. But the vast majority, 1,584, left voluntarily after being informed they would receive a deportation order if they did not leave immediately.
A further 410 people are classified as Deportation Otherwise Confirmed which means it was verified they left the state after the issuing of a deportation order.
Helen McEntee said: "In Irish law 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.
"While a Deportation Order remains in place the person is prohibited from entering Ireland. The Garda National Immigration Bureau 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.
“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 qualify this number.”
The Minister confirmed that 830 people had departed from the State under various mechanisms in the year to November 1 last.
This includes individuals removed under the Free Movement Regulations and those transferred under the Dublin 111 mechanism.
She added: "Enforced deportation operations are complex and costly.
"This can involve investigations, detentions in custody, legal challenges, and the cost of flights. Alternatives to forced removals are therefore typically preferential and my Department provides assistance through a voluntary return programme to some who will benefit from some assistance to reintegrate in their home country.
"The number of voluntary returns facilitated by my Department has increased by 270 percent for the same period in 2023.
"Voluntary returns are a fast and efficient way to remove individuals from the jurisdiction and to confirm that removal has taken place," the Minister concluded.
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