“…for the purpose of ensuring their deportation from the State” and “to facilitate the procurement of travel documentation and the making of arrangements for the deportation flight.”
Twenty-eight of the 35 people deported to Nigeria from Ireland this week were detained prior to their flight, with an average custody period of 27 days, according to the Department of Justice.
In a statement to RTÉ’s Saturday with Colm Ó Mongáin, the Department said individuals subject to deportation orders can be held for up to 56 days “for the purpose of ensuring their deportation from the State” and “to facilitate the procurement of travel documentation and the making of arrangements for the deportation flight.”
Detention sites include Castlerea, Cloverhill, Cork, Limerick, Midlands, and Wheatfield Prisons, as well as the Dóchas Centre for women and various garda stations.
Minister of State Charlie McConalogue said, “The information I have in terms of the women and children involved, there was no detentions there, that there was a date given in advance.”
Sinn Féin TD Eoin Ó Broin said, “There is no doubt that part of what the very high profile nature of Minister O’Callaghan has done is to try and distract attention…”