Department refuses info on Policing Authority

The Department of Justice has refused to provide any information on the selection process for the chairperson of the forthcoming independent Policing Authority.

An accelerated procedure was put in place by the Government so that the chairperson could play a part in the appointment of the next Garda commissioner and assist in establishing the authority.

The interview process for the Garda Commissioner role has already started, with a second round of interviews expected shortly.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald have imposed a deadline of the end of the year for the establishment of the Policing Authority.

The appointment procedure for the chairperson has attracted criticism from legal experts and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, which called for an independent selection process.

Such a procedure, operated by the Public Appointments Service, would involve an independent panel to interview — more than once — selected candidates.

It would conduct a detailed examination of the applications and forward to Government an assessment of the experience and skills of a shortlist, along with a recommendation.

However, in the case of the authority chair, the Government sought an “expression of interest”, rather than a formal application. These expressions were sent to the Public Appointments Service, which only checked if they complied with board criteria before forwarding them to the Government to carry out the actual examination.

There was a short, 10-day deadline set for expressions of interest, which ended on October 17.

The Irish Examiner sent 11 questions to the department seeking details on:

-How many expressions of interest were received by PAS and how many were sent on;

-The exact process by the department for examining them and selecting the chairperson;

-What the examinations involved, who conducted them, and were any outside experts consulted;

-Would formal interviews or informal conversations, be held with any candidates;

-At what stage did the justice minister get involved and what role did she play, and the same for the Cabinet;

-When would the position be filled;

-Would the candidates, or the selected chairperson, have sight of the legislation setting up the authority beforehand.

The department’s response to the questions stated: “Expressions of interest were invited from suitably qualified persons to be considered for nomination by the Government as chairperson designate of the forthcoming Policing Authority. These expressions of interest were invited through the State boards website which is run by the Public Appointments Service. The closing date for expressions of interest was last Friday 17th October.

“The submissions received by [Public Appointments Service] have been forwarded to the minster. The matter will be considered by Government [in] due course.”