Charter flight used to deport 32 people to Georgia

Thirty-two people have been deported to Georgia, the Minister for Justice has confirmed, in what he described as a “significant start” towards a “more effective immigration system”.

The people had previously received deportation orders and were transported by chartered flight from Dublin to Tbilisi on Thursday night.

The returnees were accompanied on the flight by Garda personnel, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights observer.

Jim O’Callaghan said the flight has landed and the people are “back safely in Georgia”.

It was the first operation conducted under a contract signed by the Government in November, which allows for charter aircraft for deportations.

The Department of Justice said further operations will be conducted.

Mr O’Callaghan said: “A central priority for me and this Government is that our immigration laws are robust and enforced. People are entitled to have confidence in our immigration system and there…