Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Chairperson of the Policing Authority and I are agreed that the process of the appointment of the new Commissioner must be approached in a careful and considered manner to ensure that it delivers the outcome that will provide for the calibre of a person required to lead our national police service. It could well be along the lines suggested by Deputy Wallace but I believe that to rush at this, simply to have a person in a post would be a mistake. We must allow for the authority to take adequate time to complete its preparatory work. We must allow it to engage with the Public Appointment Service, the Department and the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. I do not accept that is can-kicking. The authority has over the past few days submitted its views to me on the various aspects of the process and I expect to see real progress on this matter between now and the end of the year.

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