Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 605: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the process in respect of recent appointments to the Garda Ombudsman Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40927/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The term of office of the three Commissioners in the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission expired in December 2011. I asked my Department to arrange for public expressions of interest to be sought from candidates interested in serving in this role for the five year period from 2012 to 2016. Advertisements were placed on the Department's website, as well as on the website of the Public Appointments Service, www.publicjobs.ie. A total of 40 expressions of interest were received by the closing date of the 8th of November 2011.

I reviewed all of the applications which were received and selected three candidates whose names were submitted to Government in accordance with Section 65 of the Garda Síochána Act. The three candidates were approved by the Government as having the appropriate experience, qualifications, training and expertise for the relevant roles. Mr Simon O'Brien was nominated for the role of Chairperson and Commissioner and Mr Kieran Fitzgerald was nominated as Commissioner. Ms Carmel Foley was nominated as Commissioner for a second term. A motion regarding the appointment of the three nominees was subsequently adopted by the Joint Committee on Justice, Equality & Defence, thus clearing the way for the appointment of the three nominees under Presidential warrant.

I consider that the combination of the skills and experience of the three appointees will provide the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission with strong and effective leadership over their 5 year term of office and that, under their direction, the Commission will continue to provide effective, fair and balanced oversight of policing in this country.