Key official ‘very optimistic’ on commissioner process

The head of the Policing Commission has said she is now “very optimistic” that the process to appoint the next Garda commissioner will be “thoughtful and effective” and that the “right person will be selected”.

Kathleen O’Toole made a dramatic intervention last September, publicly warning Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan that it would be a “serious mistake” to proceed with the appointment before the expert group issued its report in September 2018.

It followed the shock retirement of Nóirín O’Sullivan and the start of discussions between the Department of Justice, the Policing Authority, and the Public Appointments Service about starting a new appointment process.