Four-fold increase in removal of EU citizens from Ireland in 2025

By Bairbre Holmes, PA

The number of EU citizens removed from Ireland has more than quadrupled in the last year, a Minister has said.

Colm Brophy, Minister of State for Migration, told the Dáil 99 Europeans have been removed from Ireland so far this year, compared to 24 in 2024, describing it as a “large increase”.

Speaking during a debate on migration and Ireland’s asylum system on Wednesday he explained EU citizens can be subject to removal orders under free movement regulations.

Mr Brophy said: “These orders can be made on the grounds that an individual’s personal conduct represents a genuine, present and sufficiently serious threat affecting one of the fundamental interests of society.”

This included the deportation of 23 Romanian citizens who were removed from Ireland by charter flight last month.