Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 February 2019
260. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the criteria which will be used by the implementation group for police reform in the recruitment of Garda sergeants scheduled for Q3; if it will it be an open public competition; if not, if it will be an internal competition; if internal, the entry criteria for same (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9544/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware the filling of vacancies in the supervisory ranks of Sergeant and Inspector is a matter for the Garda Commissioner who has responsibility under the Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 2006 (as amended) for holding competitions for the selection of members for promotion to these ranks.
On 18 December 2018, the Government endorsed the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI) and agreed to accept all 157 key recommendations contained in the report, including those related to Garda workforce planning and modernisation. On 18 December 2018 I also published a four year high level plan, ‘A Policing Service for the Future’, which sets out the approach to implementation of the Commission's recommendations. Implementation of the Commission’s recommendations is already being advanced. Workforce planning and modernisation will be one of the key issues advanced throughout 2019 including in relation to civilianisation and also in relation to the appointment of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors.
The Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 2006 (as amended) outline the eligibility requirements to be a candidate for promotion to the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector. One of the eligibility requirements is that a candidate must be a serving member of An Garda Síochána and this requirement will remain in place for the next competition. My Department is currently in the process of drafting new Promotion Regulations which will govern future competitions for promotion to these ranks as recommended by the Commission for Public Service Appointments. It is my intention to have these new Regulations in place for the next competition that is scheduled for Q3 2019 in the CoFPI Implementation Plan.
