Minister defends police authority appointments

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has said the board members of the new Policing Authority were of the “highest calibre”, after claims they were political appointees.

The charge was made by the Irish Council for Civil Liberties which stressed it was not questioning the credentials of those appointed.

Announcing the formal establishment of the authority yesterday, Ms Fitzgerald said: “The quality of those who sought appointment to the authority reflects the central importance of policing in the lives of our citizens and the desire of people from all different backgrounds to contribute to its ongoing improvement.”