Our Appointments Functions

The Policing Authority has responsibility for a range of functions relating to the appointment of persons to positions in the Garda Síochána, including:

1. Nominating persons for appointment by the Government to the posts of Garda Commissioner and Deputy Garda Commissioner;
2. Undertaking selection competitions for appointment of persons to the ranks of Assistant Commissioner, Chief Superintendent and Superintendent in the Garda Síochána and for making appointments to these ranks;
3. Approving the numbers and grades of civilian staff with the consent of the Minister for Justice and equality and the minister for Public Expenditure and reform; and
4. Making appointments to senior civilian positions in the Garda Síochána. 

1. Nomination to Government for appointment of Garda Commissioner

In June 2018, after an open, international selection process undertaken by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Authority, the Authority nominated a candidate to Government for appointment to the position of Garda Commissioner. The selection process was designed with the objective of attracting the widest possible field of candidates from a broad range of backgrounds to ensure that the successful candidate would be tested against international standards in police leadership. 

On 3 September 2018, the Government appointed Drew Harris to the position. Commissioner Harris is a former Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland. For further information, read Policing Authority Welcomes Drew Harris

2. Selection and Appointment to the Senior Garda ranks

From 1 January 2017, the functions of the Policing Authority relating to appointments to the ranks of Assistant Garda Commissioner, Chief Superintendent and Superintendent under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 Regulations 2016 (S.I 641 of 2016) ("the Regulations") were commenced. 

The commencement of these statutory functions was welcomed by the Authority as a significant milestone in the reform and modernisation of policing services in Ireland since it was the first time that appointments to the ranks of the Garda Síochána had been made by an external independent body.

The first competition, for appointment to the rank of Assistant Commissioner, was advertised in late January 2017. The three-stage competition was concluded on 21 March and the first appointment was made on 23 March 2017. The first appointments to the ranks Chief Superintendent and Superintendent and were made in June and July 2017 respectively. In total, 52 appointments were made from the panels put in place from the 2017 competitions. 

Selection Competitions were undertaken in 2018 for appointment to the ranks of Chief Superintendent and Superintendent and panels of candidates established from which appointments are made as required. It is intended that the Authority will conduct annual selection competitions for appointment to these ranks. 

3. Approval of Numbers and grades of civilian staff 

In 2018, the Authority approved 126 positions in 2018. 

4. Appointments of Senior Garda Staff

The Authority is also responsible for appointment of candidates for Garda Staff positions at the grades of Principal Officer and above. The Authority publishes details of all appointments on a quarterly basis.