The Social Democrats have described the Government's decision to deport a number of children back to South Africa during term time as “just wrong”. 

On Saturday, 63 people left Ireland on a deportation flight to Johannesburg. 

Among the group were nine, including the Oyekanmi family, whose case had attracted considerable media attention. 

The Oyekanmis had been living in Ireland since October 2023 and had integrated well into their South Dublin school, with the two older sons excelling at sport. 

However, after their application for asylum was refused, they were told to return to South Africa.

On Newstalk Breakfast, Social Democrats TD Garry Gannon said the Department of Justice should do more to consider the impact of deportations on children. 

 “I think if people go through this process and their application is deemed not successful, then deportations do play a role in our immigration system,” he argued. 

“What doesn't play a role is that it's never in the best interest of a child to be deported from a country during the school year.

“That's actually not the norm in most of the European jurisdictions; there was at least one of those children that we know who was about to do his Leaving Cert in a couple of months time.”

A further deportation flight left Dublin yesterday and landed safely this morning in Johannesburg, South Africa. There were 63 people on board who had received but not complied with Deportation Orders.

— Jim O'Callaghan TD (@OCallaghanJim) March 1, 2026

The Dublin Central accused the Government of “being performative in its duties” and took particular issue that the Minister for Justice confirmed the deportations on social media. 

“We've seen that performance again over the weekend when Jim O'Callaghan takes to his Twitter account,” he said. 

“There is no other administration of justice in this country that when a form of justice according to the Minister is carried out there, it's done so over Twitter. 

“I mean, that's just quite irregular, in fact.”

Deputy Gannon added that where a child is to be removed from the State, the Government should do so during the school holidays to avoid disrupting their education. 

“It's not the failure of the children who've been here, who are a part of your sports clubs, part of the communities, have lived a substantial part of their life in this jurisdiction,” he said. 

“So, the idea of affording them simply a few months to finish their exams, that doesn't seem like a huge amount to ask for. 

“So, in terms of what is the benefit, I mean, the benefit comes in multiple forms, no less to the child who's now being deported to the classrooms in which that child is not going to be there.

“That creates a huge level of trauma for the rest of the class.”

A matter of 'public confidence'

Following the deportation of the South Africans, Minister O’Callaghan defended his decision to order their removal from the State. 

“Without effective enforcement measures, our immigration laws would be undermined and I want to ensure that there is public confidence in the application of our laws in this area,” he said. 

“If a person does not have a legal permission to be in the State, or has been involved in criminality, they will be removed.”

Main image: The Oyekanmi family. Image supplied.