A new Garda Commissioner: Best of luck, Commissioner

Drew Harris takes up his role as the new Garda Commissioner today.

It is hard to think of a public appointment in recent times that was as important or as challenging.

The unhappy fate of his two immediate predecessors, and the litany of scandals destroying the credibility of the force, epitomised by the bizarre fake drink-driving figures fiasco, mean that everyone on this island must hope he succeeds in rebuilding the public respect the force depends on to do its ever-more important job.

That he succeeds may be even more important for the members of the force who, despite everything, are still committed to the idea of public service and the high professional and personal standards needed to realise that honourable vocation.

Indeed, Commissioner Harris may be in a better position to drive change than his recent predecessors, some of whom may not have had the resources — or the ambition — needed to modernise a struggling, insular force.

He takes office at a moment when the Government that appointed him simply cannot afford to lose another commissioner.

Even the possibility of such a development gives the commissioner leverage that seems almost unprecedented.

Enjoying that position of strength is one element of this brave appointment, but the overriding hope must be that he succeeds in his onerous task.

Best of luck, Commissioner Harris. You will need it.