Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan has today confirmed that a deportation flight to Pakistan departed Dublin Airport yesterday with 24 Pakistani nationals on board.
The deportation orders, against 24 adult males, were enforced using a charter flight.
It is the fourth such deportation flight to have taken place this year, following two to Georgia earlier this year and one to Nigeria in June.
With this latest flight, the total number of enforced removals stands at 130.
Speaking following the announcement of the operation, Minister O’Callaghan said that if a person’s application for international protection is refused and they are ordered to leave the State, “they must do so”.
“If they choose not to leave voluntarily, they will be forced to leave. We must hold firm on this principle because deportations are an essential part of any immigration system,” he said.
According to the department, 3,029 deportation orders have been issued so far in 2025.
“Unless a person is involved in criminality, they are offered assistance to return home voluntarily before a deportation order is made. This is the best outcome when implementing returns,” Minister O’Callaghan said, adding that 1,200 people have left voluntarily so far this year.
In addition to the 130 people removed by charter flight, the department says that 132 deportation orders have been enforced on commercial flights, while 40 people subject to deportation orders left Ireland unescorted so far in 2025.