€3m deportation flights plan revealed

UP TO €3 million will be spent on hiring aircraft to deport illegal immigrants from Ireland over the next two years.

The planes, carrying up to 100 passengers, are expected to bring deportees back to mainly west-African countries and Eastern Europe. The department also plans stopover joint operations with other countries to deport people.

However, immigrant supporters yesterday shot down the Department of Justice funding for the flights, insisting that taxpayers’ money could be better spent elsewhere.