Timeline for next Garda chief up in the air, says authority chairwoman

The timeline for the selection of the new Garda commissioner is “up in the air”, the head of the Policing Authority has said.

Chairwoman Josephine Feehily told the Oireachtas justice committee that if the matter was put on hold until the Policing Commission reported in September 2018, the process could be pushed back 16 to 18 months.

The Policing Commission dramatically intervened on Monday, telling Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan it would be a “serious mistake” to select a new commissioner before the commission had completed its report. In a letter, commission chair, Kathleen O’Toole, said the process “should begin only” after it had reported and said it would be unrealistic to expect “credible candidates” to apply in the absence of clarity as to what the job entailed.