Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan has confirmed the removal of 34 convicted EU nationals from Ireland following a charter operation to Poland and Lithuania on Sunday.
In a statement issued by the Department of Justice last night, the Fianna Fáil Minister said there “must be consequences” for people whose conduct means they should no longer enjoy the right to free movement within the European Union.
The Department said 22 Polish nationals and 12 Lithuanian nationals were removed from the State “on grounds of criminality” under the Free Movement Directive.
Removal orders were enforced against 34 men aged from their 20s to their 60s, with re-entry bans of up to 10 years imposed to prevent their return to Ireland.
The Department stated that all of those removed as part of the operation had received custodial sentences for a range of criminal offences.
The charter flight departed Dublin Airport on Sunday afternoon before landing in Warsaw at approximately 3:45pm Irish time. The flight later continued to Vilnius, arriving at approximately 5:50pm Irish time.
Speaking about the operation, O’Callaghan said restricting freedom of movement rights was “not something I take lightly.”
“European citizens have the right to freedom of movement,” he said.
“Restricting this right is not something I take lightly, but there must be consequences for people whose behaviour means they should no longer enjoy this privilege.”
The Minister said he would continue to enforce removal orders against people involved in criminality.
“I will take action if our laws are not upheld,” O’Callaghan said.
“This includes enforcing removal orders for people involved in criminality and for those who pose a danger to society. Today’s operation underpins my commitment in this area.”
O’Callaghan also said that the “vast majority” of Polish and Lithuanian nationals living in Ireland obey the law and contribute positively to society.
“I want to acknowledge that the vast majority of Polish and Lithuanian nationals resident in the State respect our laws, and are valuable members of our society,” he said.
“I would like to extend my thanks to the members of An Garda Síochána, as well as officials from my Department, for their dedicated work in completing this operation.”
Minister of State Colm Brophy said it was “essential” that people in Ireland obey the law.
“It is essential that people respect and obey the laws of the State,” Brophy said.
“In 2025, 56 people were removed under the Free Movement Directive, and today’s operation brings the total number of people removed under the Directive in 2026 to 88.”
The Department of Justice said the operation was conducted in cooperation with An Garda Síochána and the Irish Prison Service.
Garda personnel, interpreters, medical staff and a human rights observer accompanied those removed on the flight.
The Department also confirmed that the provision of the aircraft for the operation cost €184,465 excluding VAT.
According to figures released by the Department, six charter flight operations carried out in 2025 removed 205 people from the State. Five of those operations involved non-EU destinations and resulted in the removal of 182 people subject to deportation orders, while one operation removed 23 EU citizens on grounds of criminality.
The Department said that three charter flights carried out so far in 2026 have resulted in the removal of 130 people from Ireland, including 67 EU citizens removed on grounds of criminality.
Under the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015, the Justice Minister can issue removal and exclusion orders against EU citizens or their family members where their conduct is considered a threat to public policy, public security or public health.
The legislation allows re-entry bans of up to 10 years to be imposed following the issuing of an exclusion order.
Department figures show that 21 removal orders were enforced under the regulations in 2023, followed by 18 in 2024 and 56 in 2025.