Immigration Act, 1999

Deportation orders.

3.—(1) Subject to the provisions of section 5 (prohibition of refoulement) of the Refugee Act, 1996 , and the subsequent provisions of this section, the Minister may by order (in this Act referred to as “a deportation order”) require any non-national specified in the order to leave the State within such period as may be specified in the order and to remain thereafter out of the State.

(2) An order under subsection (1) may be made in respect of—

(a) a person who has served or is serving a term of imprisonment imposed on him or her by a court in the State,

(b) a person whose deportation has been recommended by a court in the State before which such person was indicted for or charged with any crime or offence,

(c) a person who has been required to leave the State under Regulation 14 of the European Communities (Aliens) Regulations, 1977 ( S.I. No. 393 of 1977 ),

(d) a person to whom Regulation 19 of the European Communities (Right of Residence for Non-Economically Active Persons) Regulations, 1997 ( S.I. No. 57 of 1997 ) applies,

(e) a person whose application for asylum has been transferred to a convention country for examination pursuant to section 22 of the Refugee Act, 1996 ,

(f) a person whose application for asylum has been refused by the Minister,

(g) a person to whom leave to land in the State has been refused,

(h) a person who, in the opinion of the Minister, has contravened a restriction or condition imposed on him or her in respect of landing in or entering into or leave to stay in the State,

(i) a person whose deportation would, in the opinion of the Minister, be conducive to the common good.

(3) (a) Subject to subsection (5), where the Minister proposes to make a deportation order, he or she shall notify the person concerned in writing of his or her proposal and of the reasons for it and, where necessary and possible, the person shall be given a copy of the notification in a language that he or she understands.

(b) A person who has been notified of a proposal under paragraph (a) may, within 15 working days of the sending of the notification, make representations in writing to the Minister and the Minister shall—

(i) before deciding the matter, take into consideration any representations duly made to him or her under this paragraph in relation to the proposal, and

(ii) notify the person in writing of his or her decision and of the reasons for it and, where necessary and possible, the person shall be given a copy of the notification in a language that the person understands.

(4) A notification of a proposal of the Minister under subsection (3) shall include—

(a) a statement that the person concerned may make representations in writing to the Minister within 15 working days of the sending to him or her of the notification,

(b) a statement that the person may leave the State before the Minister decides the matter and shall require the person to so inform the Minister in writing and to furnish the Minister with information concerning his or her arrangements for leaving,

(c) a statement that the person may consent to the making of the deporation order within 15 working days of the sending to him or her of the notification and that the Minister shall thereupon arrange for the removal of the person from the State as soon as practicable, and

(d) any other information which the Minister considers appropriate in the circumstances.

(5) The provisions of subsection (3) shall not apply to—

(a) a person who has consented in writing to the making of a deportation order and the Minister is satisfied that he or she understands the consequences of such consent,

(b) a person to whom paragraph (c), (d) or (e) of subsection (2) applies, or

(c) a person who is outside the State.

(6) In determining whether to make a deportation order in relation to a person, the Minister shall have regard to—

(a) the age of the person;

(b) the duration of residence in the State of the person;

(c) the family and domestic circumstances of the person;

(d) the nature of the person's connection with the State, if any;

(e) the employment (including self-employment) record of the person;

(f) the employment (including self-employment) prospects of the person;

(g) the character and conduct of the person both within and (where relevant and ascertainable) outside the State (including any criminal convictions);

(h) humanitarian considerations;

(i) any representations duly made by or on behalf of the person;

(j) the common good; and

(k) considerations of national security and public policy,

so far as they appear or are known to the Minister.

(7) A deportation order shall be in the form prescribed or in a form in the like effect.

(8) Where a person who has consented in writing to the making of a deportation order is not deported from the State within 3 months of the making of the order, the order shall cease to have effect.

(9) (a) Subject to paragraph (b), where the Minister decides to make a deportation order under this section, the notice under subsection (3)(b)(ii) shall require the person concerned to present himself or herself to such person and at such date, time and place as may be specified in the notice for the purpose of his or her deportation from the State.

(b) A person who is ordinarily resident in the State and has been so resident for a period (whether partly before and partly after the passing of this Act or wholly after such passing) of not less than 5 years and is for the time being employed in the State or engaged in business or the practice of a profession in the State other than—

(i) a person who has served or is serving a term of imprisonment imposed on him or her by a court in the State, or

(ii) a person whose deportation has been recommended by a court in the State before which such person was indicted for or charged with any crime or offence,

shall not be deported from the State under this section unless 3 months' notice in writing of such deportation has been given by the Minister to such person.

(10) A person who contravenes a provision of a deportation order or a requirement in a notice under subsection (3)(b)(ii) shall be guilty of an offence.

(11) The Minister may by order amend or revoke an order made under this section including an order under this subsection.

(12) In this section “working day” means any day not being a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday.