According to media reports, 32 people — 28 men, three women and one child — were removed on the flight from Dublin to Tbilisi yesterday evening.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said afterwards: “Today is a significant start in ensuring that deportation orders are enforced and part of a more effective immigration system generally. There will be further flights scheduled in the future.”

The Department of Justice said the deportees were accompanied on the flight by Garda personnel, medical staff, an interpreter and a human rights observer.

Yesterday’s operation was the first under a contract signed by the State last November for the provision of charter aircraft for these purposes.

Access to these services has significantly increased the capacity of An Garda Síochána to effect removals, the Department of Justice said.

It says charter flights can also be “more appropriate” in circumstances when a group of individuals are being removed to the same destination.

Mr O’Callaghan said: “I am committed to making our returns system more efficient so that people who are not entitled to be here depart and do so swiftly.”

Enforced removals are carried out as a measure of last resort when the person concerned has not removed themselves from the State or availed of assisted voluntary return measures.

The minister said: “When a person’s application for international protection is refused or they are found to have no permission to be in the State, they are offered assistance to return home voluntarily. However, when this option is not availed of, they are liable to be deported by the Garda National Immigration Bureau.

“Enforcement and voluntary returns are a fundamental part of any sustainable modern immigration system. Together with minister Colm Brophy, I will be prioritising increasing all types of returns.”

Colm Brophy, the minister of state for migration, added: “Chartered deportation flights will now form an important part of removing people who do not have a right to remain in our country.

“I welcome this operation and thank the gardaí and all the staff involved in its success.

“I look forward to now seeing chartered flights in conjunction with voluntary deportations, ensuring that we will have a firm and effective system in place to deal with deportations going forward.”