Commissioner: Critical that Garda positions be filled as vacancies pose 'profound risks'

The Garda Commissioner yesterday said she has written to the Government calling for the “immediate appointment” of 46 senior officers — saying that the continuing vacancies posed “profound risks” to policing and security services.

Nóirín O’Sullivan said these “critical vacancies” also needed to be filled in order to address the issues of poor investigations and supervision highlighted in the O’Higgins report.

She told the Policing Authority she had written to the secretary general of the Department of Justice seeking the appointment of the remaining two assistant commissioners, 18 chief superintendents, and 26 superintendents. The Garda chief also pointed out only 240 of the 390 established positions of inspector were currently filled.