Press release
Minister Flanagan welcomes launch of the recruitment process for the next Garda Commissioner
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD, has welcomed today’s launch of the recruitment process for the next Commissioner of An Garda Síochána. The process is being undertaken by the Public Appointments Service under the auspices of the independent Policing Authority for the first time.
Welcoming the process, Minister Flanagan said:
"I am pleased that the process to appoint the next Commissioner of An Garda Síochána is now underway. I would like to acknowledge the good work of the Policing Authority, the Public Appointments Service and my department over the last number of months to prepare for the launch of the competition."
Referring to the open, international nature of the process, the Minister said:
"The role of Commissioner, the most senior post in Irish policing, is extremely challenging. The overriding concern of all stakeholders has been to ensure that this process is designed to attract the widest possible pool of high calibre candidates, so that whoever is selected and nominated by the Authority for appointment by Government is tested against a strong field."
It is anticipated that the selection process itself will take in the region of four months. Some further time will then be required for the completion of the appointment process.
Details of the process are available at www.publicjobs.ie. The closing date for applications is 3pm on Thursday 12 April 2018.
ENDS
The vacancy at the rank of Garda Commissioner arises from the retirement of Commissioner O’Sullivan on 10 September 2017. In accordance with section 32 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, Deputy Commissioner Ó Cualáin is authorised to exercise all the functions of the Commissioner during the vacancy.
The government triggered the statutory selection and appointment process in section 9 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) on 12 December 2017.
The statutory process set out in section 9 provides that it is for the government to appoint the Commissioner on the nomination of the Policing Authority. The Authority, subject to the prior written approval of the government, invites the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to undertake the selection competition. The requirements relating to knowledge, ability and suitability for appointment are to be agreed by the Authority and PAS with the Minister's approval. The government may in exceptional circumstances and for stated and substantial reasons reject the nomination.