Government fills senior Garda posts

The Government has moved to fill 33 senior Garda posts which have been vacant since last year.

The Minister for Justice Alan Shatter announced the appointment of two Assistant Commissioners, eight Chief Superintendents, and 23 Superintendents in An Garda Siochana.

The consequential vacancies at Inspector and Sergeant level will also be filled.

The Government had been under pressure to fill the vacancies after the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan spoke out publically last week, calling for the promotions to be granted.

Minister Shatter said today that the Garda strength at the end of this month is expected to be 13,500, bringing Garda numbers back to 2007 levels.