“If we’re to manage the immigration system, we need to have knowledge of who’s here,” a Minister of State has said, calling for exit checks to confirm whether deported individuals actually leave the country.
Speaking to Gript outside Government Buildings ahead of this morning’s Cabinet meeting, Independent Minister of State for Transport Sean Canney said it was vital to keep track of the movements of those issued with deportation orders.
“Absolutely. Look, if we’re to manage the immigration system we need to know and have the knowledge of who’s here, where people are, and all of that,” he said.
“So I think it’s important that that information is made available. And I think, you know, when we look at it probably we’ve been so overrun by people coming into this country that there’s lots of things which work right but I’m very confident that Minister Jim O’Callaghan is putting things right now and will continue to do that.”
Independent Minister of State for Agriculture Noel Grealish also gave his thoughts on the issue.
“I think that it is right, if someone gets a deportation order, they must leave the State,” he said.
“That information should be made available to the Minister. So hopefully that will happen soon.”
Grealish also spoke about the housing situation, which he said was the “number one issue” in the country.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the National Development Plan this morning,” he said.
“It’s going to be focused on housing delivery, which is the number one issue. And I have to say, I think Jim O’Callaghan is doing an excellent job as Minister for Justice.”
Their comments follow recent statements from Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan, who said that Irish authorities are not in a position to say how many deported migrants actually leave the State, due to the absence of exit checks at the border.
“It is not possible to accurately provide the number of people who are currently in Ireland subject to deportation orders,” the Minister said in response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy.
While the Department of Justice confirmed that 739 individuals have officially left the State after receiving deportation orders since 2020, over 6,700 deportation orders were issued in that same period.
This means that the State cannot confirm whether the individual actually left in around 90% of cases.
O’Callaghan said that the Garda National Immigration Bureau had conducted a review of sample cases and found that “a very significant number” of individuals appeared to have left without informing authorities.
“Deportations are costly and complex to enforce,” he said.
“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.”
He also stated that remaining in the country after being issued a deportation order is a criminal offence.
“A deportation order is a legal order to leave the State,” he said.
“Any person who has been ordered to leave the State and fails to do so, within the timeframe issued with the deportation order, is committing a criminal offence and can be arrested without warrant if they come into contact with An Garda Síochána.”
“The enforcement aspects of our laws, including deportation orders, are an essential requirement for the system to work effectively.”
The number of deportation orders issued in 2024 rose to 2,403, a 180% increase on the previous year.
O’Callaghan has said that enforcement of these orders is now a “central priority.”