Jim O'Callaghan: “The request for adjournments needs to be dealt with much more stringently and it should not be happening on the routine…”

charter flights provide an alternative to commercial flights and can be more appropriate in circumstances when a group of individuals are being removed to the same destination.

Some solicitors think that if they put enough pressure on the system to disrupt cases, that this is going to result in political pressure on me, and I'm going to revoke the regulations. That's not going to happen.

Deportations are costly and complex to enforce. It is the preferred option to return people voluntarily and my department has a voluntary return programme to assist people to return prior to the issuance of a deportation order.

I have been in contact with [Spain's interior minister] Fernando Grande-Marlaska today to express my solidarity and support to the Spanish government as they deal with the situation in Ceuta.