Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I will explain. The establishment of the Policing Authority earlier this year was the most fundamental change in the Garda Síochána since the foundation of the State. The establishment of the independent Policing Authority was to oversee the performance by the Garda Síochána of its relations in respect of policing services. It has already commenced its work and is holding regular meetings. The transfer of the function is a major signal about the Government's intent not to have the hand of politics in any of the appointments to senior positions in the Garda Síochána, for perception and for reality. The clear preference of the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald, is that the authority should have the opportunity to exercise the function as soon as possible. This will give new confidence to the oversight arrangements in place and the role of the Policing Authority.

I agree there should be no undue delay in filling existing vacancies. The Tánaiste is anxious about it and it will be kept under very close review. Section 12 of the Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 provided for the transfer to the Policing Authority of the appointment of persons to the senior ranks of the Garda Síochána. This was the function, intent and purpose of the Act. This function transfers to the Policing Authority by or on 1 December, a few weeks hence. There is a public consultation. In the interim, the appointment of persons to senior ranks remains a matter for the Government. Earlier this year, at the request of the Garda Commissioner, the Government made a number of appointments to fill vacancies in senior ranks. On 24 May, the Government appointed four members to the rank of assistant commissioner. On 13 July, the Government appointed ten members to the rank of chief superintendent and 18 to the rank of superintendent. Fianna Fáil rightly queried the Government as to why these appointments were being made. I remember having to give instructions to explain to Fianna Fáil that the Government had made a decision to transfer responsibility and authority to the Policing Authority. The appointments were drawn in order of merit from promotion panels which were formed on foot of competitions held by the Garda Commissioner in accordance with the Garda Síochána regulation Act of 2006. The Policing Authority was consulted on the proposal to fill the vacancies and supported the filling of them on the nomination of the Government, as provided by the Garda Commissioner, up to the limit of the agreed strength as approved by the Tánaiste and the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform under the employment control framework, ECF.

The Garda Commissioner informed the Tánaiste that a chief superintendent retired in September. This, together with the recent departure of an assistant commissioner to take up a post abroad, brings the number of vacancies in the senior ranks to three, including one at superintendent level. The ECF will be increased and, from 30 December, the independent Policing Authority will be in a position to make those arrangements and appointments. I assume the Policing Authority is readying for the opportunity when it arises.

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