A charter flight containing 32 people who received deportation orders left Ireland last night.

Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan said the flight which left Dublin for Tblisi in Georgia was sanctioned by the Department of Justice, and those on board landed safely in Tblisi.

Minister O’Callaghan confirmed that chartered deportation flights have recommenced in order to enforce Ireland’s immigration laws.

Yesterday’s flight was the first operation conducted under a contract signed by the State last November for the provision of charter aircraft for these purposes.

Further operations will be conducted as the year progresses.

Fianna Fail TD Jim O'Callaghan at Montrose in Dublin, 23-08-2020. Image: Niall Carson/PA Wire/PA Images

“A central priority for me and this Government is that our immigration laws are robust and enforced,” Minister O’Callaghan said.

“People are entitled to have confidence in our immigration system and there must be consequences for individuals who refuse to leave the State when they are ordered to do so.

“We have a rules-based system for International Protection applicants - for rules to have meaning, they must be enforced.

“There will be further flights scheduled in the future.”

"Successful operation"

Minister O’Callaghan said he wanted to thank the Gardaí and his officials for their work “as part of this successful operation”.

“I am committed to making our returns system more efficient so that people who are not entitled to be here depart and do so swiftly,” he said.

Charter flights provide an alternative to commercial flights and can be more appropriate in circumstances when a group of individuals are being removed to the same destination.

A contract was signed in November last year for the provision of charter aircraft for deportation operation purposes.

Enforced removals are carried out as a measure of last resort when the person concerned has not removed themselves from the State or availed of assisted voluntary return measures.

Married couple & TDs Maeve Brophy and Colm Brophy. Image: Jessica Woodlock/Newstalk

“When a person’s application for International Protection is refused or they are found to have no permission to be in the State, they are offered assistance to return home voluntarily,” Minister O’Callaghan said.

“However, when this option is not availed of, they are liable to be deported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

“Enforcement and voluntary returns are a fundamental part of any sustainable modern immigration system.

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

"Effective system"

Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy added that chartered deportation flights will now form an important part of removing people who do not have a right to remain in Ireland.

“I welcome this operation and thank the Gardaí and all the staff involved in its success,” he said.

“I look forward to now seeing chartered flights in conjunction with voluntary deportations, ensuring that we will have a firm and effective system in place to deal with deportations going forward.”

The 32 people deported yesterday were Georgian nationals.

The returnees were accompanied on the flight by Garda personnel, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights observer.

Terminal 2 Dublin Airport Ireland. Image: Alamy