Garda Commissioner

Commissioner of An Garda Síochána
Incumbent
Nóirín O'Sullivan
since 25 November 2014
Member of National Security Committee
Reports to Minister for Justice and Equality
Nominator Minister for Justice and Equality
Appointer Government of Ireland
Term length 7 years[1]
Inaugural holder Michael Staines
Formation February 1922
Deputy Deputy Commissioner Operations
Salary €180,613[1]

The Garda Síochána will succeed not by force of arms or numbers, but on their moral authority as servants of the people.

“
”

— Inaugural Garda Commissioner Michael Staines, 1922[2]

The Garda Commissioner (Irish: Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána) – officially known as the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána – is the head of the Garda Síochána, the national police service of Ireland. The Garda Commissioner is appointed by the Government of Ireland (cabinet), on the recommendation of the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Commissioner reports to the Minister for Justice and Equality, in charge of the Department of Justice and Equality, of which the Garda Síochána is a state agency. The Garda Commissioner sits on the Irish government's National Security Committee (NSC), and is responsible for Ireland's domestic state security apparatus.[3]

The current Garda Commissioner is Nóirín O'Sullivan, who was appointed on a permanent basis on 25 November 2014 (having been interim during a competition process since March 2014).[4]

History

Michael Staines became the first Garda Commissioner in February 1922, when the force was founded as the Civic Guard.[5]

Traditionally, the Commissioner is the highest ranking police officer in the state, however the selection process for the position is now open to candidates from outside the force, outside a law enforcement agency and outside of the Republic of Ireland.[6]

Nóirín O'Sullivan made history in becoming the first woman to lead the force when she was appointed in November 2014, having already served as the acting Garda Commissioner since March 2014.[7]

Office of the Garda Commissioner

The Garda Commissioner sits at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 and is supported by a senior management team consisting of two Deputy Commissioners, a Chief Administrative Officer and twelve Assistant Commissioners;[8]

List of Garda Commissioners

Name Term of office Reason
Michael Staines February 1922 September 1922 resigned following Civic Guard Mutiny
Patrick BrennanMay 1922September 1922(unofficial - elected by mutineers during Civic Guard Mutiny)
Eoin O'Duffy September 1922 February 1933 dismissed for encouraging a military coup
Eamon Broy February 1933 June 1938 retired
Michael Kinnane June 1938 July 1952 died
Daniel Costigan July 1952 February 1965 resigned
William P. Quinn February 1965 March 1967 retired
Patrick Carroll March 1967 September 1968 retired
Michael Wymes September 1968 January 1973 retired
Patrick Malone January 1973 September 1975 retired
Edmund GarveySeptember 1975 January 1978 replaced (lost government confidence)
Patrick McLaughlin January 1978 January 1983 retired (wiretap scandal)
Lawrence Wren February 1983 November 1987 retired
Eamonn Doherty November 1987 December 1988 retired
Eugene CrowleyDecember 1988 January 1991 retired
Patrick CulliganJanuary 1991 July 1996 retired
Patick Byrne July 1996 July 2003 retired
Noel ConroyJuly 2003 November 2007 retired
Fachtna MurphyNovember 2007 December 2010 retired
Martin Callinan December 2010 March 2014 resigned (penalty points & GSOC bugging scandal)
Nóirín O'SullivanMarch 2014 (acting)
September 2014 (permanent) 		incumbent

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Finn, Christina (5 September 2014). "Are you an 'inspirational leader'? Like to earn €180k? The Garda Commissioner job is up for grabs". thejournal.ie. Retrieved 13 July 2015.
  2. ↑ "Member States / Ireland". Europol. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  3. ↑ Cusack, Jim (10 August 2014). "Employing non-Irish Commissioner is 'madness' say senior gardai". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 August 2015.
  4. ↑ "Nóirín O'Sullivan honoured to be appointed Garda Commissioner". RTÉ News. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  5. ↑ O'Donnell, Ian (14 November 2014). "Urgent action needed to restore force's moral authority". The Irish Times. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  6. ↑ "Commencement of open recruitment process for post of Garda Commissioner". Dept of Justice and Equality. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "Garda has first female commissioner". Irish Independent. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Senior Management Structure" (PDF). Report of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Garda organigram" (PDF). An Garda Síochána. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
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