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.

The Policing Authority has raised concerns about the implementation of a long-awaited system for assessing work performances within An Garda Síochána.

The most important gardaí are those who “work on the ground”, but they are “not valued”, a longtime community activist 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.