Speaking in the Dáil on 5 November 2025, Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy revealed that Ireland has removed 99 EU nationals so far this year – four times last year’s total of 24. The Minister, responding to opposition questions during a migration debate, said the rise stems from stricter enforcement of the European Communities (Free Movement) Regulations, which permit removal where an EU citizen’s conduct poses a “genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat” to public policy or security.
Twenty-three Romanian nationals were deported on a charter flight last month, the largest single operation under the programme. Removals also involved citizens of Poland, Lithuania, Spain and the Netherlands. Brophy stressed that the policy targets individuals engaged in organised crime, persistent antisocial behaviour or serious public-order offences, not ordinary migrant workers.
![Deportations of EU citizens from Ireland quadruple, Dáil told]()
The surge has sparked concern among rights groups, which fear disproportionate targeting of specific nationalities and call for clearer guidance on what constitutes a “serious threat”. Business lobby Ibec warned that high-profile removals could deter intra-EU transferees, especially in construction and hospitality, if due-process safeguards are perceived as weak.
Companies employing EU staff should review compliance with work-condition monitoring and ensure employees understand residency obligations to avoid inadvertent breaches that might trigger removal proceedings.
Twenty-three Romanian nationals were deported on a charter flight last month, the largest single operation under the programme. Removals also involved citizens of Poland, Lithuania, Spain and the Netherlands. Brophy stressed that the policy targets individuals engaged in organised crime, persistent antisocial behaviour or serious public-order offences, not ordinary migrant workers.
The surge has sparked concern among rights groups, which fear disproportionate targeting of specific nationalities and call for clearer guidance on what constitutes a “serious threat”. Business lobby Ibec warned that high-profile removals could deter intra-EU transferees, especially in construction and hospitality, if due-process safeguards are perceived as weak.
Companies employing EU staff should review compliance with work-condition monitoring and ensure employees understand residency obligations to avoid inadvertent breaches that might trigger removal proceedings.
