Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The proposed recommendation is to the effect that the selection process for both officers and staff would be conducted with standards that apply across the public sector and, in that regard, there would be a function for such a board, namely, the Garda Commissioner under the supervision of the Garda board. I see it as being an important aspect of the recommendations for change that the responsibility for all human resources, HR, matters would rest with the Garda Commissioner. Remember it is the Garda Commissioner who will ultimately be accountable in any event. If we are to vest responsibility for HR matters in the chief executive, that would see the appointment function and the transfer of such functions to the Commissioner.