Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2016
155. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she plans to proceed with the appointment of those Garda inspectors who have been selected for promotion and who are currently waiting on the list for promotion to the rank of superintendent. [36273/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is determined that there is no undue delay filling critical vacancies in An Garda Síochána and will ensure that An Garda Síochána has a leadership team that can address the serious challenges that the Garda Síochána faces every day in maintaining law and order.
The Department of Justice was notified of 3 vacancies in September and since then a further 5 vacancies arose. These have been mainly voluntary retirements and therefore were not anticipated. As a result, there were 8 vacancies in the senior ranks up until today.
The Government has taken action today to rectify that. I can inform the Deputy that the Government has, today, approved my proposals to fill the existing vacancies and the consequential vacancies arising on foot of these appointments within the agreed strength of the Employment Control Framework. The Government has made one appointment to the rank of Assistant Commissioner, three appointments to Chief Superintendent and seven to Superintendent. The Garda Commissioner and the Policing Authority were consulted in relation to this matter.
The Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015 makes provision for the Policing Authority to appoint persons to the senior ranks of An Garda Síochána. The establishment of the Authority represents one of the most significant and progressive reforms to the sector over recent years and the Government is committed to the Authority assuming its functions in relation to senior appointments as soon as practicable. The relevant provision will be commenced once amendments to the Regulations governing promotions within An Garda Síochána have been made by Government. The intention is to bring the Regulations to Government for approval in December and that the Authority will take over the appointment function by 1 January. Once this is done it will be a matter for the Authority to undertake its own selection competitions for appointments to these ranks.
