New figures obtained by The Irish Times show that the Department of Justice has already issued 99 exclusion orders against EU nationals convicted in Irish courts this year—six times the 2024 total—with projections of at least 120 by year-end. An exclusion order both deports the individual and bars re-entry for up to ten years.
Security officials say the policy shift is part of Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan’s wider crackdown on abuse of free-movement rules and follows political pressure after several high-profile crimes involving repeat offenders from other EU states. Half of those already served with orders have been removed, including 23 Romanians placed on a recent charter flight.
Under EU law, exclusion orders may be used when a person’s conduct poses a “genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat.” Until 2023 Ireland relied on the measure only sparingly, wary of legal challenges, but a dedicated cross-agency task-force has accelerated case reviews and secured extra charter-flight funding.
For HR and assignment managers the message is clear: employees with criminal convictions—no matter how dated—face an increased risk of removal and re-entry bans if they offend in Ireland. Multinationals are being advised to reinforce codes of conduct and ensure that any seconded staff understand local laws, particularly around driving offences and public-order breaches that can trigger deportation proceedings.
The development also signals tougher enforcement ahead of the International Protection Bill currently before the Oireachtas, which will streamline deportations of failed asylum seekers.
Security officials say the policy shift is part of Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan’s wider crackdown on abuse of free-movement rules and follows political pressure after several high-profile crimes involving repeat offenders from other EU states. Half of those already served with orders have been removed, including 23 Romanians placed on a recent charter flight.
Under EU law, exclusion orders may be used when a person’s conduct poses a “genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat.” Until 2023 Ireland relied on the measure only sparingly, wary of legal challenges, but a dedicated cross-agency task-force has accelerated case reviews and secured extra charter-flight funding.
For HR and assignment managers the message is clear: employees with criminal convictions—no matter how dated—face an increased risk of removal and re-entry bans if they offend in Ireland. Multinationals are being advised to reinforce codes of conduct and ensure that any seconded staff understand local laws, particularly around driving offences and public-order breaches that can trigger deportation proceedings.
The development also signals tougher enforcement ahead of the International Protection Bill currently before the Oireachtas, which will streamline deportations of failed asylum seekers.
