A top-ranking Garda officer was today appointed to a newly-created role in charge of driving reform of the force.

Ostensibly, the reports of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate and the Management Advisory Group, which recommend radical reform of garda management, should be welcomed, both from a garda and public perspective.

THE Government yesterday transferred control of 1,900 civilian staff working with the gardaí from itself to the Garda Commissioner.