Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As I stated, it is the desire of the Government that the competition should attract the widest possible pool of candidates, not only from within the jurisdiction but from beyond. It is for this reason that the Government earlier today agreed that a short piece of amending legislation should be brought forward as a matter of priority to address an anomaly that has been identified in the legislation governing the retirement of members of An Garda Síochána. The effect of the amendment will be to ensure that the same age limit applies to both internal and external candidates. I am anxious to ensure that there will be what I would describe as an even playing field.

The chair of the authority, the chair of the Commission on the Future of Policing and I are at one in our view that there should be an even playing field in the process between internal and external candidates in this regard. It is important that we have this issue resolved as a matter of priority. I hope I can rely on the support of Deputy Sherlock, and indeed all Deputies, to facilitate the speedy passage of what will be a short, single-section Bill to ensure the competition can proceed and that we can have the advertisement within a matter of weeks.

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