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The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD, has said with effect from tomorrow, 1 January 2017, the Policing Authority will have responsibility for running competitions for appointments to the senior Garda ranks of Assistant Garda Commissioner, chief superintendent and superintendent. 

The Tánaiste said: “From tomorrow the Policing Authority, which came into being just short of 12 months ago, will have assumed all of its intended functions and be fully operational.  The establishment of the Policing Authority represents one of the most significant and important reforms to the justice sector over recent years and the transfer of the appointment function in relation to the senior ranks is a particularly important demonstration of this reform.  The selection and appointment of candidates to these very senior ranks in An Garda Síochána is an onerous responsibility and I want to wish the Authority every success with this very important work.” 

Commencement of the remaining sections of the 2015 was dependent on the Regulations governing promotions and discipline in An Garda Síochána being amended to reflect the role envisaged for the Authority. 

From 1 January, inspectors and superintendents in both An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) will be eligible to apply for appointment to the Assistant Commissioner and chief superintendent ranks.