Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín has said that confidence in Ireland’s immigration system is being undermined by the failure to enforce the majority of return orders issued by the State.
Figures released by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration in response to a Parliamentary Question from Deputy Tóibín show that 233 of the 309 return orders issued in 2025 were not actioned within the statutory timeframe. The figures also show that all six return orders issued in 2023 were not actioned within the legal timeframe, while 40 of the 42 orders issued in 2024 were likewise not actioned on time.
The Minister further confirmed that, because Ireland has no routine exit checks at its borders, the State cannot determine with certainty whether many people issued with return orders have actually left the country.
The Deputy said “Three out of every four return orders issued last year were not actioned within the legal timeframe. That is not an isolated problem. The figures show this has been a persistent issue for several years.
“The Minister has also confirmed that the State has no routine exit checks at our borders. In many cases, the authorities simply do not know whether a person who has been ordered to leave the country has actually left.
“An immigration system depends on decisions being implemented. When large numbers of return orders are not actioned within the timeframe set out in law, it raises serious questions regarding capacity, enforcement and public confidence.
“The Government cannot claim to have an effective returns system if it cannot accurately measure compliance with the orders it issues. People are entitled to know whether return orders are being carried out, why so many are not being actioned on time, and what measures are being taken to address the problem.”
” I have already sought details from the Minister regarding the costs associated with appeals against return orders, but the Department has stated that it does not compile the information in a way that allows those costs to be identified. That is a shocking admission”
“”It is an out-and-out shambles. The State is issuing return orders, failing to enforce the majority of them, failing to verify whether individuals have left the country, and failing to track the costs arising from these failures. No private organisation could operate in this manner and expect to retain public confidence.”
I am calling on the Minister to publish a clear plan, including timelines and resource requirements, to improve enforcement and ensure that return orders are actioned effectively.” Concluded the Deputy
