Policing body in place this year
The Policing Authority was to have been up and running by the end of 2014, but will not be in place until later this year.
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has now said the legislation for the authority will be published within weeks.
“The minister has indicated that she expects the legislation to provide for the establishment of the new Policing Authority to be published early next month,” said a spokesman for the Department of Justice.
The Garda Síochána (Amendment) Bill 2014 follows on from a general scheme, or draft, bill, published last November. It was subject to scrutiny in the Oireachtas justice committee.
The former head of the Revenue Commissioners, Josephine Feehily, was appointed by the Government as chairperson of the authority last October and has been working on the establishment of the authority.
She will be joined on it by eight members, who will be appointed through the Public Appointments Service, which will make recommendations to the Government.
The department spokesman said the advertisement for positions in the authority would be published when the bill is introduced.
“The minister is looking forward to the enactment of this bill as quickly as possible,” he said.
The eight positions must be split equally along gender lines and at least one must have experience as a senior officer from a foreign police force and at least one other person must have experience of strategic or financial management.
Separately, the spokesman said the department would be advertising the position of chairman of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission “shortly”. This followed the sudden resignation of Simon O’Brien last January.
Although yet to be confirmed, the procedure for the appointment is expected to be by ministerial selection and Government nomination, rather than by open competition through the PAS.
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