The Irish Government has confirmed the removal of 24 Romanian nationals from Ireland following criminal convictions, as part of its ongoing efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement and protect public safety.
Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration Mr Jim O’Callaghan announced that the operation was successfully completed on Sunday, October 18th, 2026, with all 24 men returned to Romania on a specially chartered flight.
The individuals, aged between 24 and 57, had previously received custodial sentences for various criminal offences in Ireland.
The aircraft departed Dublin Airport at 4:25pm and arrived in Bucharest at 8:00pm Irish time. All 24 men have been issued re-entry bans of up to 10 years, preventing them from returning to Ireland for the periods specified in their exclusion orders.
The operation was carried out under the EU Free Movement Directive, which allows member states to restrict the residence rights of EU citizens whose personal conduct represents a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat to public policy or security.
Of those removed, 18 were transferred directly from prison custody, while the remaining six had been arrested and detained before their removal. Garda personnel, medical professionals, interpreters and a human rights observer accompanied the passengers throughout the operation.
The charter aircraft cost €182,270, excluding VAT, according to figures released by the Department of Justice.
The latest removal brings the total number of people removed from Ireland, under the Free Movement Directive, to 148 so far in 2026, compared with 56 in 2025.
Across seven charter flight operations Ireland has removed 245 individuals, including 91 EU citizens, removed on grounds of criminality.
Minister O’Callaghan reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to enforcing immigration legislation and taking action against individuals whose criminal behaviour poses a risk to public safety.
The operation was conducted through cooperation between An Garda Síochána, the Irish Prison Service and the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration.
The Government continues to use removal and exclusion orders as part of its approach to immigration enforcement, while recognising the freedom of movement rights afforded to EU citizens.
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