Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister's comment that there should not be an undue delay. I also agree with him when he says the selection process should be designed in such a way that it will result in the best possible candidate being selected. However, when we look at the legislation, it gives some cause for concern. The legislation introduced by the former Government in 2015 provides that there must, first of all, be a competition run by the Public Appointments Service to identify who is the best candidate. The Government sees great merit in competitions being run by the Public Appointments Service. They are of questionable benefit and sometimes competitions do not result in the best and most appropriate candidate. What does the Minister believe should be the basis of the competition being run by the Public Appointments Service? Is the Government or the Policing Authority going to have any say in respect of that competition? Is it the case the Public Appointments Service is simply going to come back stating it ran a competition and here is the winner and then the Policing Authority and the Minister will be bound by that decision? We need greater selection appraisal than simply running a competition before we appoint the highest police officer in the State.

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