Andrew Munro,
Head of Legislation for Civil Justice, Head of Policy for Civil Justice,
Department of Justice,
51 St. Stephen’s Green,
D02 HK52
16 September 2026
Re: Human rights oversight and monitoring of deportation flights
Dear Andrew,
I write further to my previous letter dated 24 July regarding human rights monitoring of deportation flights.
In that letter, we requested information and documents relating to such flights, including copies of the human rights observer reports produced with respect of all removal flight operations that have taken place February 2025. We have not yet received a response.
Since our last letter, it has come to IHREC’s attention that the first six observer reports have been published on a subsidiary website of the Department. In light of this, we would be grateful if you could respond to our initial letter and share with us the balance of the reports which have not been published.
In relation to the published reports, we would be grateful if you could confirm that they constitute the full report of the relevant observer. If they are compiled from other primary sources of documentation produced during the operations, we would be grateful if you could furnish us with same.
For information, the Commission is currently undertaking research into human rights monitoring of forced return flight operations from an OPCAT perspective. We intend to publish a short policy statement setting out the applicable human rights standards, obligations and requirements and look forward to engaging further with the Department on this important issue.
Thank you for your continued engagement and I look forward to receiving your response.
Le dea-mhéin
Deirdre Malone
Director