Ireland’s Department of Justice confirmed on 25 January 2026 that a charter aircraft left Dublin Airport at 12:30 p.m. carrying 33 EU nationals—17 Polish citizens and 16 Lithuanians—who had all served custodial sentences for criminal offences. The removals were ordered under the European Communities (Free Movement of Persons) Regulations 2015, which transpose the EU Free-Movement Directive into Irish law and allow expulsion where an individual’s conduct is deemed a serious threat to public policy or security.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan told reporters that re-entry bans of up to ten years have been applied “to make clear that freedom of movement is a privilege, not a licence for criminality.” He stressed that the vast majority of Polish and Lithuanian nationals “respect our laws and contribute positively to society,” but warned that the State will act decisively when necessary. The €122,000 flight—contracted through Air Partner—was accompanied by Garda officers, medical staff, interpreters and an independent human-rights observer to ensure compliance with EU return-procedure standards.
![Ireland Deports 33 EU Nationals on First Large-Scale Charter Removal Flight of 2026]()
The operation is the largest single-day removal of EU citizens since 2022 and underscores the Government’s tougher stance on enforcing immigration rules after record inward migration last year. For corporate mobility managers the message is clear: EU citizens posted to Ireland on intra-company transfers or short-term projects can be removed if they breach criminal law, and employers should reinforce compliance expectations in assignment briefings.
For organisations and travellers who want to stay ahead of these shifting requirements, VisaHQ’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) provides real-time visa information, document checklists and application facilitation. The service tracks policy updates like the enforcement actions described here, helping businesses, contractors and family members navigate Irish and wider EU entry rules with confidence.
The Justice Department disclosed that 56 people were removed under the same directive in 2025—23 on a charter to Romania, 26 on commercial flights and seven voluntarily. Officials indicated that further charter flights are planned in 2026 as part of a strategy to reduce costly detention stays and speed up removals once legal appeals are exhausted.
Justice Minister Jim O’Callaghan told reporters that re-entry bans of up to ten years have been applied “to make clear that freedom of movement is a privilege, not a licence for criminality.” He stressed that the vast majority of Polish and Lithuanian nationals “respect our laws and contribute positively to society,” but warned that the State will act decisively when necessary. The €122,000 flight—contracted through Air Partner—was accompanied by Garda officers, medical staff, interpreters and an independent human-rights observer to ensure compliance with EU return-procedure standards.
The operation is the largest single-day removal of EU citizens since 2022 and underscores the Government’s tougher stance on enforcing immigration rules after record inward migration last year. For corporate mobility managers the message is clear: EU citizens posted to Ireland on intra-company transfers or short-term projects can be removed if they breach criminal law, and employers should reinforce compliance expectations in assignment briefings.
For organisations and travellers who want to stay ahead of these shifting requirements, VisaHQ’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) provides real-time visa information, document checklists and application facilitation. The service tracks policy updates like the enforcement actions described here, helping businesses, contractors and family members navigate Irish and wider EU entry rules with confidence.
The Justice Department disclosed that 56 people were removed under the same directive in 2025—23 on a charter to Romania, 26 on commercial flights and seven voluntarily. Officials indicated that further charter flights are planned in 2026 as part of a strategy to reduce costly detention stays and speed up removals once legal appeals are exhausted.
