Only a quarter of deportation orders carried out

ONLY a quarter of deportation orders issued last year were actually carried out, figures from the department of Justice have revealed.

In 2009, Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern signed 939 deportation orders, but only 236 were carried out.

Looking at the figures over five years shows that between 2003 and 2008, only 2,431 of 8,960 deportation orders issued were implemented.

The Department of Justice admitted it did not know how many of these people were still here.

A spokesman for the department said, however, that the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) believed that a large number had already left of their own accord.

If they are found to be in the state, however, these people are liable for arrest and detention for the purposes of removal.

According to the department, while the main reason someone is not deported is because they evade it, there are other reasons.

“The remaining orders have not been effected because they have been revoked – judicial review proceedings may have been initiated challenging the deportation orders; and the return of the persons concerned may have to be organised with their country of origin.”

Fine Gael spokesman on Immigration & Integration, Denis Naughten, accused the minister of trying to spin the figures.

“While Minister Ahern tries to spin the figures regarding the deportation of failed asylum seekers, the situation is actually getting worse. In 2007 just over a third of all deportations signed by Minister Ahern resulted in deportations from this country. But this has now fallen to a quarter,” he said.

“Compounding the minister’s failure to enforce his own orders, the number of asylum seekers disappearing from their accommodation was proportionately up in 2009 with close to 500 applicants evaporating into thin air. Some of these applicants have just used the asylum system as a back door to get into the country, while others have disappeared as a result of traffickers exploiting what they see as a ‘soft touch system’,” he said.

Mr Naughten said it was imperative to have a sustainable and effective returns policy through proper enforcement of deportation orders. Ireland and the EU must sign up to agreements with countries of origin to enable easier repatriation of illegal immigrants. The deportation process begins with a letter being sent from the department of justice to the person. It is then up to the GNIB to escort that person the airport.

Under the Immigration Act, 1999, deportations are based on a system of voluntary compliance rather than detention.

It is only after non-compliance takes place that the Garda Síochána can take enforcement measures.

Not all persons who are subject to deportation orders will comply with those orders.