Minister confirms removal of 24 Romanian nationals
A charter flight has successfully deported 24 Romanian men from Ireland due to criminal convictions. The operation, coordinated by Irish authorities, enforces removal orders under the Free Movement Directive and includes re-entry bans of up to ten years.
Source:
Gov.ie / MerrionStreet
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⏱️ 1 min read
The Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan, has confirmed the completion of a charter flight removing 24 Romanian nationals from Ireland on grounds of criminality. The men, aged between 24 and 57, were deported under the Free Movement Directive, having all served custodial sentences for various offences.
The flight departed Dublin Airport at 16:25 and arrived in Bucharest at 20:00 Irish time. Each individual was issued with a re-entry ban of up to ten years to prevent their return. Gardaí, medical personnel, interpreters, and a human rights observer accompanied the group during the operation, which was carried out in close cooperation with the Irish Prison Service and An Garda Síochána.
Minister O’Callaghan emphasised the seriousness of restricting freedom of movement but stressed the necessity of enforcing the law against those who pose a public danger. Minister of State Brophy underlined the importance of law compliance by all residents and noted that most Romanian nationals contribute positively to Irish society. To date in 2026, seven charter flights have removed 245 individuals, including 91 EU citizens, with a total aircraft cost of €182,270 excluding VAT for this operation.
The flight departed Dublin Airport at 16:25 and arrived in Bucharest at 20:00 Irish time. Each individual was issued with a re-entry ban of up to ten years to prevent their return. Gardaí, medical personnel, interpreters, and a human rights observer accompanied the group during the operation, which was carried out in close cooperation with the Irish Prison Service and An Garda Síochána.
Minister O’Callaghan emphasised the seriousness of restricting freedom of movement but stressed the necessity of enforcing the law against those who pose a public danger. Minister of State Brophy underlined the importance of law compliance by all residents and noted that most Romanian nationals contribute positively to Irish society. To date in 2026, seven charter flights have removed 245 individuals, including 91 EU citizens, with a total aircraft cost of €182,270 excluding VAT for this operation.
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