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MINISTER FOR JUSTICE Frances Fitzgerald says that the next Garda Commisioner should come following an “open and transparent” competition and that ‘nobody should be precluded’ from the competition.
Speaking to the media after meeting with acting Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan, Fitzgerald also pledged to “take lessons” from the findings in the Guerin report that the Department of Justice hadn’t acted independently enough in its dealings with An Garda Síochána.
The minister said that in her discussions O’Sullivan there was agreement that here needed to be a “sea change” in the force, with the minster adding that some of these changes needed to come “immediately”.
“The report further raises fundamental questions about the treatment and response to victims of crime which must be addressed as a matter of priority,” she added.
Despite signalling her “full support” in O’Sullivan’s pledge to introduce changes, Fitzgerald said that nobody should be excluded from applying for the permanent position:
What we need is that the next Garda Commisioner should be in place following an open competition and may the best person emerge, he or she. That’s the reality, I don’t think anyone should be precluded from that competition but, it should be an open and transparent competition.
Fitzgerald added that she discussed with O’Sulliavan the continued exclusion of Garda whistleblower Maurice McCabe from the PULSE system, adding that the restoration of the facility to the Sergeant is an operational matter. She said that she expects An Garda Síochána to make a statement on this matter in the coming days.
The minster, who only took over her brief in Justice yesterday following the resignation of Alan Shatter, said that there needs to be more clarity and support for whistleblowers like McCabe.
“People who make complaints must be dealt with in a supportive fashion and I think the roadmap needs to very clear,” she told reporters outside Government buildings. “I don’t think that’s been made strong enough. The roadmap has to very clear to members of the force and be supportive at a management level. So change is needed.”
Department of Justice
The report of Sean Guerin SC was also critical of the role of the Department of Justice, pointing in particular to a lack of written notes on advice given to her predecessor by his senior civil servants.
Asked whether she regretted offering her support to Shatter prior to his resignation, Fitzgerald said that his decision to step came as a result of “new information” in the Guerin report.
She said that the Government was of course aware of problems relating to whistleblowers, but that what is contained in the Guerin report represented a “different quantum”:
“I don’t think today is the day to comment on the question in relation to Alan Shatter,” she said. “But what I will say is that Alan Shatter was a reforming Minister and new information has emerged in this report and clearly he made a decision himself on the basis of this report that he would offer his resignation.”
The relationship between the Department and senior gardaí does however have to be looked at:
Obviously in terms of the relationship with An Garda Síochána, the Minister for Justice has a key role to play, its a reporting relationship. Its an important relationship. Obviously what’s very key in Sean Guerin’s report is that having that “third-eye” in response to issues that are reported is very important.
“It’s very easy to have an establishment view, it’s very easy when a whole range of cases have been dealt with by a variety of agencies and have presented reviews to you,” she added.
In reference to whether or not she retains confidence in the Secretary General of her Department Brian Purcell, Fitzgerald refused to give him here outright backing. She said that she has held an “initial briefing ” with him but “there are a number of issues raised about the report which I have not yet had a chance to discuss.”
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All promotions should be open competitions and not nods and winks
The Taoiseach is chosen by a vote of our democratically elected members of the Dáil. That is a pretty open competition. People may not like the outcome but that’s the way the country voted…….
Not really. Anyone can run for election to the Dáil.
Agee Red, I have faith in Minister Fitzgerald, no baggage no line in the sand,suprised at Shatter being a clever guy.
Change can be good where needed. But not a knee jerk reaction and try change everything.
Everyday courts are packed with criminals and prisons are full. Plenty of good work by proper Gardai being done.
Easy to forget that when caught up in media hype
The good work must not blind us to the various serious improprieties and abuses of authority by some members of An Garda Siochana. The Guerin Report shows that there is a massive problem which needs to be confronted. The honest and decent members of the Force will welcome change and greater accountability.
I think Maurice McCabe would make an excellent Commissioner
Nothing wrong with these proposals but you fear the ‘empty promises’ syndrome.
The Commissioner should come from outside the current ranks. No existing Officer should even be considered.
There are only 2 choices at this stage.
Disband the force and start again what happened with the RUC or a complete change in culture and practice in the force.
Change the record, Seanie…
There are…
Is there though?
Hear hear!
ha ha …. It’s very the funny the irony of that comment …. Somebody should remind Franco and her comrades .. They did everything the EU demanded ….. Without even a whimper… no matter what the consequences were on us the Irish …. Foolish enough to elect theses unemployable chancers ….
I think an ex Police Chief from the US or UK should take the helm. Someone utterly independent and impartial.
Whoever gets it though will have a hell of a job straightening the force out.
Why does the successful candidate need to be a career Garda at all? If you’re looking for transparency and impartial behaviour you won’t find it within the existing Garda ranks. A clean break from the norms is what’s needed.
Ah Seannie there you are. Sorry you seemed to have disappeared of another column when I asked you to clarify your claim that Fianna Fáil ” investigated all of this” when they were in power.
So for the third time, what was the outcome and where can I find the report.
That’s a recipe for disaster ! Of course the Garda Commissioner must have a background in police work !
But it doesn’t mean they have to come from the Gardai. There are plenty of other managers in police forces outside Ireland who could do the job and, unlike a Garda, wouldn’t be beholden to buddies from Templemore.
They shouldn’t even need to have been in a police force full stop. Anyone capable with a background in law should well suffice.
Just like politics Mary …. Open to all… I bet…
It is.
Or do you mean ministerial positions?
Every profession’s career path is littered with promotions going to the wrong people. The Garda is no different really except for the fact that they are public officials and accountable to the general public. Whoever gets the job should be above suspicion. Anything would be an improvement on someone who is beneath contempt.
lies lies lies, waffle waffle waffle, spin spin spin…
At least there is now a recognition, however belated, that An Garda Siochana is not perfect and is in need of substantial reform, especially on the management side.
Hopefully the bad apples can be disciplined and dignity restored to a severely discredited force.
Reform and change can start. Accountability is essential.
I see that a priest’s computer with child pornographic images just happened to be lost. No prosecution.
I don’t think it is necessary to disband the Gardai and create a new service in the same way that the PSNI was created to replace the RUC. However there is a need for reorganisation, for new procedures and for new leadership drawn from outside the existing senior ranks. A close look should be best practices in policing in other common law jurisdictions with civilian policing traditions such as Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Gardai should be seconded to other police forces such as the PSNI, the RCMP, the Scottish, Welsh and English police as part of their career development and the Gardai should welcome secondees from those police services in return.
Multiple choices that will lead nowhere.
have your say