Government seeks tenders for provision of charter flights to deport people from Ireland

The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, has welcomed the launch of a formal procurement process for the provision of charter flight services for the purpose of deporting and returning individuals who no longer have permission to remain in the State.

Up to now, any deportations from Ireland have been conducted using commercial flights or ferries on a case-by-case basis.

Ms McEntee says charter flights provide an alternative to commercial flights and can be more appropriate in circumstances when a group of individuals are being removed to the same destination - therefore increasing the options available to An Garda Síochána to effect removals and deportations.

Commenting following publication of the tender documents, Minister McEntee said: “I am committed to ensuring the State’s immigration processes are robust, effective, and fair. The capacity of deportation and return processes are essential elements of any immigration system. 

"With a major increase in the number of decisions issuing on International Protection cases it is now time to increase our capacity to remove people from the State whose applications have been refused and who do not have permission to remain in the State. A charter service will increase our options in this regard."

In a statement, she said providing access to charter flights will be a "useful additional operational and enforcement resource" for An Garda Síochána when the use of commercial carriers is not appropriate.

"Subject to the successful completion of the tender process and other relevant arrangements, I intend to see charter flights operational by the end of the year.”

According to the Department of Justice, 860 deportation orders have been signed this year and nearly 300 people have departed from the State under various mechanisms up to this Monday.

A request for tenders to provide charter flight services has been published on the e-Tenders website with a view to procuring a suitable provider of charter flight services and relevant supporting services such as ground support, catering and, when required medical assistance, for passengers.

Companies interested in the contract must submit their proposals by July 17.