Top Garda job ‘will need bigger salary’

If An Garda Síochána is to attract top talent from overseas for the commissioner job then the salary will have to be increased significantly, the Government has said.

It has also emerged that the Department of Public Expenditure agreed last Friday with the Department of Justice to take into account Nóirín O’Sullivan’s period as acting Garda Commissioner to maximise her lump sum and pension entitlements, totalling a €300,000 lump sum and annual pension of €90,000.

The process to replace Ms O’Sullivan, who retired suddenly on Sunday, is already underway, with the Policing Authority drawing up job specifications.