Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 345: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedures that were undertaken for the appointment of the person to head the new Garda inspectorate; if an interview process took place as part of the selection procedure; the membership of the interview panel; if any person from outside the jurisdiction was part of the interview panel or was used to advise on the appointment; the names and positions of such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21855/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I want to assure the Deputy that an impeccable "due process" approach was taken to filling this position. Following the enactment of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 in July 2005, the Secretary General of my Department requested the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to advise on the most appropriate recruitment process to source the best possible candidates for the Garda Síochána Inspectorate. The PAS proposed using a private sector partner with experience in international recruitment and selection. Following a restricted procurement process and receipt of sanction from the Department of Finance the PAS engaged PriceWaterhouseCoopers (PWC) as an Executive Search partner to assist them in a global search of common law jurisdictions to source suitable candidates. As the position of Chief Inspector is the key position in the new organisation it was decided to recruit that person first. A Search Committee was engaged to advise PAS/PWC on the search process. The Search Committee included retired Assistant Garda Commissioner Tony Hickey, Sir Dan Crompton, retired Chief Constable of Nottinghamshire Police Constabulary and former member of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabularies (HMIC), and Kevin Murphy former Ombudsman and Information Commissioner. The Search Committee and PWC produced a short-list of potential candidates.

A Selection Committee chaired by Dr. Eddie Molloy, Management Consultant and consisting of Sir Ronnie Flanagan (Head of HMIC), Ms Isolde Goggin, Commissioner for Communications Regulation, and Mr. Sean Aylward, Secretary General, Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, was established to assess the short-list and select candidates for interview. The Selection Committee interviewed 6 candidates of whom 3 were short-listed as being successful in the competitive process for selection. Ms. Kathleen O'Toole was the interviewee who scored highest in the selection process. On the 16th May, 2006 the Government approved the appointment of Ms. O'Toole to be the Chief Inspector of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate. The positions of the other two members of the Inspectorate, who will report to the Chief Inspector, have been advertised separately by PAS. The Chief Inspector will be involved in the recruitment and selection of the other two members. This process has again involved a search and selection process organised by PAS/PWC. I will bring proposals to Government for the appointment of these two other members in due course.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 346: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the procedures that were undertaken for the appointment of each member of the Garda Ombudsman Commission; if an interview process took place for each appointment to the Commission; the membership of the interview panel; if any person from outside the jurisdiction was part of the interview panel or was used to advise on the appointments; the names and positions of such persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21856/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The procedures for the appointment of members of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission are set out in section 65 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, which provides that they are to be appointed by the President on the nomination of the Government and the passage of resolutions by both Houses of the Oireachtas. On 12 December 2005, I made an order under the provisions of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 establishing the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission. On 13 December 2005 the Government nominated the following persons for appointment by the President to be members of the Ombudsman Commission: Mr. Justice Kevin Haugh to be chairperson, Ms Carmel Foley and Mr. Conor Brady. Subsequently, resolutions were passed by each House of the Oireachtas, as required by the Act, recommending their appointment, and they were appointed by the President on 10 February 2006. No interview process was undertaken for appointment to the Commission. In making the nominations the Government, as required by the Act, satisfied itself that the nominees had the appropriate experience, qualifications, training and expertise for appointment to the Ombudsman Commission.