In his first public comments since being appointed, Bob Collins said the authority will be “unrelenting and undeviating” in using its statutory powers to advise the minister of justice of any such danger.

Key proposals in the Policing Commission report involving a dilution in the role of the Policing Authority will “concentrate power” in the hands of Government and Garda management, a leading policing expert has said.

Two members of the Policing Commission have publicly voiced their opposition to a key recommendation for an internal Garda body to take over many external oversight powers.