A TOTAL OF 23 Romanian people with criminal convictions have been deported from Ireland as part of an EU agreement.

The Department of Justice has flown the 23 men, who are aged between 22 and 49 years, to their home country using a government charter flight this afternoon.

Unlike in other recent deportations targeting one non-EU country’s nationals living in Ireland, today’s move comes against a fellow EU member.

It was carried out under Free Movement of Persons regulations, which allows the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration to issue orders for both the removal and exclusion of an EU citizen or their family member who represent a danger to public security.

According to the Department of Justice, these orders can be issued on specific, limited grounds based on the individual’s personal conduct. They cannot be issued on general concerns.

“They require a detailed examination of the person’s individual circumstances including their length of residence and family ties in Ireland to ensure that the restriction of freedom of movement rights is appropriate and proportionate,” the department’s press statement announcing the deportations outlined.

In the case of the 23 men returned to Romania today, the department said that re-entry bans have been applied to “prevent their return to Ireland” for up to a decade.

Reacting to today’s deportations, Minister Jim O’Callaghan said that restricting the right to freedom of movement “is not a measure I take lightly, but there must be consequences if a person’s behaviour means they should no longer be entitled” to access freedom of movement in the EU.

O’Callaghan added that the vast majority of the Romanian community are “law-abiding and hardworking people who make a positive contribution” to Irish society.

However, the Fianna Fáil minister said action will be taken if laws are not respected and upheld, which includes “enforcing removal orders and sending people home”.

The government has ramped up deportations this year, with countries including Nigeria and Georgia seeing citizens returned.