The Government has today approved a proposal from the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, TD, to extend the term of office of the Garda Commissioner up to 1 June 2025, when he will reach the current statutory retirement age of 60. The Commissioner’s original five year term of office had been due to expire on 2 September next year.
Minister McEntee said:
“The Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris, is rightly held in high esteem by the public and is widely acknowledged as having done an exemplary job since he was appointed in September 2018.
As well as his role in leading our national policing and security service, the Commissioner has introduced very significant reforms and driven the ongoing programme of reform in An Garda Síochána.
The organisation is currently entering a critical phase with the rollout of the new operating model, and the forthcoming passage and implementation of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill. The extension of the Commissioner’s term of office will bring a welcome clarity and continuity of leadership to An Garda Síochána through the vital period ahead.
I look forward to continuing to work with the Commissioner over the coming years.”
Commissioner Harris was appointed by Government in 2018 following an international recruitment competition run by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Policing Authority, and took up duty on 3 September 2018. He was the first person from outside the jurisdiction to be appointed as Commissioner and also became a member of An Garda Síochána on that day.
His original five year term of office had been due to expire in September 2023. Following today’s Government decision he will now be in a position to serve until 1 June 2025.
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
The Commissioner was appointed in September 2018 for a five year term.
At that time, S.I. 28/2018 Garda Síochána Act (Retirement) Regulations 2018 set out that his term would expire on the completion of 5 years’ service or on attaining the age of 60, whichever is the earlier. This meant that he would have been due to retire on 2nd September 2023.
Prior to 2018 the term of office for the Garda Commissioner had previously been seven years, in line with TLAC terms for Secretaries General, but this was reduced to five for the 2018 competition as this was considered potentially more attractive to external candidates. Following today’s Government decision, amendments will be prepared to allow for the extension of the Commissioner's term of office until the current maximum age of 60.
It should be noted that this is consistent with the approach in Head 19 of the General Scheme of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill which currently provides that a Commissioner will be appointed for a period not exceeding 5 years and may be reappointed for a period not exceeding 2 years.
The process of appointing the current Commissioner was commenced on 12 December 2017, with the Commissioner taking up duty on 3 September 2018. Given this timeline, the decision to extend the Commissioner’s term is being taken at this time as in the absence of such an extension the process of commencing a new international competition would have to begin in the coming months.