Ireland increased immigration law enforcement more than EU counterparts last year 

The country of origin for most returns from Ireland in 2024 was Georgia with 200 followed by Brazil (160), Jordan (155), South Africa (85), Nigeria (45) and Albania (40). Picture: Kirsty O'Connor/PA

Ireland intensified its enforcement of immigration legislation at the fastest rate of any EU member state last year with the number of non-EU nationals returned to another country after being issued with an order to leave increasing almost fourfold.

Figures published by the European Commission reveal that the rate of increase by Ireland in unsuccessful international protection applicants being returned outside EU borders in 2024 was 265% compared to the EU average of 17%.

The figures show that 1,040 asylum seekers were returned from the Republic to somewhere outside the EU last year compared to 285 in 2023.

Some 14 of the 27 EU member states recorded a decrease in the number of international protection applicants being removed from their respective countries after being issued with an order to leave.

The figures also highlight how enforcement activity by the Irish authorities of immigration rules has increased dramatically in the past two years as the numbers returned after being issued with orders to leave were 150 in 2021 and 190 in 2022.

The country of origin for most returns from Ireland in 2024 was Georgia with 200 followed by Brazil (160), Jordan (155), South Africa (85), Nigeria (45) and Albania (40).

A total of 135 cases were classified as “assisted forced returns” while the remainder were a combination of assisted and non-assisted voluntary returns.

The figures also show that Ireland recorded the second fastest rate among EU member states in issuing orders to leave to non-EU nationals last year.

They show that 3,234 non-EU citizens were issued with orders to leave the Republic compared to 1,060 the previous year — an annual increase of 206% compared to the EU average of just over 4%.

The number of such orders was just 160 in 2021 and 600 in 2022.

Only Spain had a higher rate of increase — issuing over 51,000 orders to asylum seekers to leave last year compared to around 10,600 in 2023.

Several countries have been designated as safe since 2022 including Albania, Algeria, Georgia, and South Africa, while more including Brazil, India, and Egypt were classified as safe during 2024.

The designation of a country as safe means asylum seekers from such nations will have their international protection applications dealt with within three months.

Safe countries of origin are those where it can be shown that there is generally and consistently no persecution, no torture or inhuman or degrading treatment, and no threat by reason of indiscriminate violence.