Fianna Fáil welcome for garda promotion transfer rowback

An initiative by interim Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan to accommodate newly promoted superintendents by moving them back to districts close to where they served as inspectors has been welcomed.

It has been the practice in many instances to move newly promoted superintendents to areas far from where they spent most of their careers.

When Ms O’Sullivan called a meeting of all superintendents in Templemore recently, it is believe there was strong feedback about the practice of moving promoted officers a long way from where they lived.

The new system has been welcomed by Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Niall Collins. “I know there was a lot of frustration among senior management that, when promoted to superintendent, it meant a huge disruption in the lives of the officers concerned as they were invariably transferred to another part of the country,” said Mr Collins.

“While they get certain expenses, this only lasts for a limited period of time and often promotion cost some a lot of money on travelling and accommodation outlay.”

Ms O’Sullivan recently announced a number of transfers involving superintendents back to parts of the country where they had previously served.

Mr Collins said: “I think this move by the interim commissioner is to be welcomed, as it means a more effective deployment of garda management and garda expertise, and also improves morale.

“I know from one area in Limerick, two very accomplished detective inspectors who played a lead role in successfully tacking the city’s feuding gangs were moved to the West of Ireland when they were promoted to the rank of superintendent, and two others in the Dublin area were moved to County Limerick. I could never understand this practice. Aside from the disruption caused by long-distance transfers, it also meant that knowledge of an area was being taken away.

“The interim commissioner is to be praised for taking this initiative and I know it has been well received in the force. It will also act as an encouragement to gardaí to go for promotion, knowing that if they do succeed they will not be penalised by being moved a long way from where they are stationed.”