The Minister for Justice and Equality, Mr Charlie Flanagan T.D., is pleased
to announce that Mr Mark Toland has taken up appointment as Chief Inspector
of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate with effect from 6 November 2017.
Mr Toland was recently appointed to the position by the Government. Mr
Toland has over 30 years of policing experience with the UK Metropolitan
Police Service. He is a former member of the Garda Inspectorate having
served there from 2012 – 2016. Mr Toland was appointed as a member of Garda
Síochána Ombudsman Commission in December 2016. He has tendered his
resignation from GSOC to the President in accordance with provisions of the
Garda Síochána Act 2005.
The Government has also appointed Mr Hugh Hume, a member of the PSNI, to be
a member of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate. Mr Hume will take up his
appointment at the end month.
Minister Flanagan said, “I am pleased to announce Mark Toland’s appointment
as Chief Inspector of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate with effect from
today. In providing independent advice on the efficiency and effectiveness
of the Garda Síochána, the Inspectorate plays an important role in the
modernisation and strengthening of the Garda Síochána. Together with his
colleagues, Ms Pauline Shields and Mr Hugh Hume, the Inspectorate will be
able to draw on a considerable body of international policing experience to
carry forward its valuable work.”
Ends
Note for Editors
- Appointments to the Garda Síochána Inspectorate
1.1 The Garda Síochána Inspectorate (GSI) was established under Part
5 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 and forms part of the oversight
architecture for the Garda Síochána. As set out in Sections 113-120 of
the 2005 Act, the objective of the Inspectorate is “ to ensure that the
resources available to the Garda Síochána are used so as to achieve and
maintain the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness in its
operations and administration, as measured by reference to the best
standards of comparable police services”.
1.2 Section 115 of the Garda Síochána Act provides that the Garda
Síochána Inspectorate shall consist of three members to be appointed by
the Government. One of the members shall be appointed as Chief
Inspector. At least one of the members shall be a woman and at least one
of them shall be a man. Current and former members of An Garda Síochána
are not eligible for these appointments. Under section 115(4) a person
shall not be appointed as a member unless it appears to the Government
that the person is suitable for the appointment by reason of –
(a) his or her service as a senior officer or retired such
officer in the police service of another state, or
(b) having otherwise obtained such relevant experience,
qualifications, training or expertise as, in the opinion of the
Government, is or are appropriate having regard in particular, to
the functions of the Inspectorate.
1.3 Section 115(3) provides that at least one member of the
Inspectorate shall be a woman and one shall be a man.
1.4 The Government appointed Mr Toland as Chief Inspector and Mr.
Hume as Member of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate at its meeting of 4
October 2017.
1.5 The Government re-appointed Ms. Pauline Shields as a Member of
the Garda Síochána Inspectorate at its meeting of 28 March 2017.