For immediate release – 18 July 2016
Ireland’s independent human rights watchdog the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL) has moved swiftly to clarify the legal situation after remarks by Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald TD regarding the deportation of persons suspected of activities related to terrorism.
In a statement issued today (18 July 2016), the ICCL said:
“Ireland, as any other state, is entitled lawfully to deport people in certain clearly-defined circumstances; however, as Tánaiste Fitzgerald is fully aware, this State cannot lawfully deport anyone to a place where they might face a risk of torture or ill treatment. To suggest otherwise would merely be sabre-rattling, which would be profoundly unhelpful at this time.”
Note to editor:
Ireland, as a full member of the European Union and the Council of Europe is bound by a strict legal prohibition of “refoulement”, the practice of unlawfully transferring people to places where they may face a well-founded fear of torture or ill-treatment. The absolute prohibition of refoulement applies regardless of the nature of the activity of which a person is suspected.