Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 October 2012
178. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Irish citizen minors that accompanied parents or other family members on deportation flights; the years in which those deportations took place; the number per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43670/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra179. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Irish citizen minors who accompanied parents on deportation flights who still reside outside of Ireland; the countries in which they reside; the numbers in any country; if his officials are aware of the educational facilities of which they may avail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43675/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra180. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Irish citizens minors who accompanied parents on deportation flights who have since died; the country in which they died and their cause of death; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43676/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra182. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if persons were forcibly restrained, handcuffed or otherwise bound on deportation flights which left Ireland on which Irish citizens' minors travelled; the years in which those deportations took place; the numbers of flights on which this occurred in any year; the destination of the Irish citizens on board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43782/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra183. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if any Irish citizens minors were forcibly restrained, handcuffed or otherwise bound on deportation flights which left Ireland; the years in which those deportations took place; the number of such incidences in any year in which it occurred; the destination of the Irish citizens on board; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43783/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 178 to 180, inclusive, 182 and 183 together.
I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) that the records that are readily available and accessible indicated that in the period 2008 to 2012, a total of 672 persons were deported from the State in accordance with law on deportation flights. 198 of these were minors who in all cases were accompanied by their parents or guardians. It is not possible to indicate how many of these were Irish citizen children; however the likelihood is that the number was small. It is also important to note that Deportation Orders are not issued in respect of Irish citizen children and that when they leave the State they do so in the company of their parents and/or guardians. These flights are either charter flights arranged by INIS or through shared arrangements organised through the FRONTEX network which is an EU organisation established to coordinate repatriation activities between EU countries to ensure that humanitarian standards are met and to maximise efficiency and cost-effectiveness in joint return operations. Destination countries include Nigeria, Dr. Congo, Pakistan, Sierra Leone, Georgia, Russia and Ghana. Other statistics and information of the nature sought by the Deputy are not maintained by my Department. In any event, my Department would not be aware of the circumstances of persons once they have been repatriated to their country of origin.
Enforcement of the law in relation to deportations is an operational matter for An Garda Síochána and is exercised by the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB). I am advised that the GNIB operate a policy of zero restraint on all persons being deported and that the question of restraining persons only arises in the context of maintaining public safety, is always proportional and is a relatively rare event. The safety of all persons in these situations is of paramount importance and in this regard I would be anxious to hear from the Deputy if he has any specific situation in mind.
I might add that persons who are illegally in the State are required by law to remove themselves. Many persons/families comply with the law and opt for voluntary return. In these circumstances, every effort is made to assist the persons involved including support offered through the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) such as payment of travel costs and a contribution to enable the person or family get resettled in their native country.
