Helen McEntee changes deportation rules for people convicted of serious offences

Plans announced by Justice Minister Helen McEntee mean that criminals will not have the option of leaving the State voluntarily and will not be allowed to return to Irel

Non-Irish criminals convicted of serious offences can now be served with a deportation order without having the option of leaving the State voluntarily, Helen McEntee has announced.

The Justice Minister also confirmed that under new plans being announced today, children who were born in Ireland to non-national parents will now be able to apply for citizenship after three years.

The Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023 came into effect on Monday.

It contains amendments to existing laws on Irish nationality and citizenship, court offices, bankruptcy, international protection, data protection, immigration and legal services.

One change will ensure that persons convicted of serious offences can now be served with a deportation order without the option of leaving the State voluntarily.

It will also prevent them from being able to return to Ireland.

Minister McEntee said that this is an “important change which will increase the efficiency of the removal process and strengthen public safety”.

She explained: “Where a person is being removed from the State having been convicted of a serious crime or where they are a threat to the security of the state, they will no longer have the option to depart the country voluntarily. This means they cannot evade deportation from the State and cannot return to the State once deported.”

Changes will also be made to amend the International Protection Act 2015 to allow immigration authorities to serve documents electronically via email.

The Department of Justice noted that there have been cases where people have moved addresses and documents, such as deportation orders, have been difficult to deliver.