Garda chief ‘needs no experience’

THE next Garda Commissioner will not be required to have previous policing experience, the Government said yesterday.

Cabinet ministers agreed the process to appoint a successor to Nóirín O’Sullivan, who retired in October following three years at the helm. Her replacement will be in post by summer.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said they would look at people from a broad range of backgrounds to ensure the most appropriate candidate is appointed. ‘It is for this reason that the Government has agreed that there should be no bar imposed in terms of nationality, or indeed, previous experience of policing,’ he added.

A Government spokesman declined to comment on a mooted €250,000 salary for the new appointee, but confirmed that they would look to increase the €180,000 paid each year to Ms O’Sullivan.

‘The Government is of a mind that the salary will need to be increased in order to attract the calibre of candidate required,’ the official said.

Meanwhile, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has appointed senior barrister Michael Collins SC to conduct a review of the response of the Department of Justice to requests for documents from the Disclosures Tribunal.

The Government’s failure to pass important documents to the Commission investigating the treatment of Garda whistleblowers was exposed during the controversy surrounding Frances Fitzgerald. Mrs Fitzgerald was forced to stand down as tánaiste and minister after it emerged she received three emails outlining a Garda legal strategy to attack the integrity of whistleblower Sergeant Maurice McCabe, but did not intervene.

The review will examine actions by the department in responding to such requests, relevant documents and records, the processes used within the department, and communication to and from senior managers and the minister.

Mr Collins has been asked to report to Mr Varadkar on or before January 19.