The Government has deported 42 Brazilian nationals since June, including 15 people serving prison sentences, according to Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan.

In a statement on X, Mr O’Callaghan said: “Since June there have been 42 deportations of Brazilian nationals on commercial flights to Brazil.

“The people deported included 15 people serving prison sentences. None of the 42 had permission to be here.”

The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration said that 2,713 deportation orders were signed up to 29 August this year. This compares to a figure of 1,285 up to 30 August last year.

The Department said 1,386 people have departed from Ireland under various mechanisms up to 29 August via “forced return, voluntary return etc”.

In June, 35 people, including five children, were deported from Ireland to Nigeria on a charter flight.

Speaking in June at the time, Mr O’Callaghan said those on the flight to Nigeria were served with a deportation order and did not comply with that, so a consequence was needed.

The minister had said such operations send out a clear message regarding the enforcement of rules for those with deportation orders, adding that the asylum system becomes meaningless if it is not enforced.

In February, 32 people were deported to Georgia on a chartered flight.

An Garda Síochána said the 28 men, three women and one child were deported and that the child was part of a family group (father, mother and child).