Press release
Government approves appointment of Anthony Harbinson to the Policing Authority
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The government has appointed Mr Anthony Harbinson to the Policing Authority. Mr Harbinson retired last year as Permanent Secretary of the Northern Ireland Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs.
Prior to heading up that department, Mr Harbinson worked in the Northern Ireland Department of Justice where he held a number of roles. These included Director of Safer Communities, where he developed the department’s vision for safer communities, and directed all policing policy and legislation.
The Minister for Justice Simon Harris said:
“I welcome the appointment of Mr Harbinson to the Policing Authority. The Policing Authority carries out its functions with fairness and transparency, and I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge and to commend the work of its members.
"I wish Mr Harbinson every success in his new role as he joins the Authority in its mission to hold An Garda Síochána to account in the interests of all, particularly the most vulnerable.”
Mr Harbinson’s appointment fills the vacancy left after the resignation last year of Stephen Martin from the Policing Authority. A State Boards selection competition was conducted by the Public Appointments Service (PAS).
The Policing Authority is an independent statutory body established on 1 January 2016 under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended (The Act). Its role is to oversee the performance of An Garda Síochána by carrying out a broad range of oversight, review and governance functions.
The Authority consists of nine members, namely a Chairperson and eight ordinary members, all of whom are to be appointed by the government.
Members of the Policing Authority are appointed from persons identified and recommended by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) for appointment.
A vacancy on the Authority arose following the resignation of one member of the Authority in May 2022. The Public Appointments Service conducted a State Boards competition to identify and recommend a person suitable for appointment by the government to fill the vacancy on the Policing Authority. Mr Anthony Harbinson was identified as the successful candidate following that process.
On 5 April, the government agreed to the nomination of Mr Harbinson and the Minister received approval to forward draft resolutions to both Houses of the Oireachtas in respect of the proposed appointment of Mr Harbinson to the Authority.
Prior to a new appointment to the Authority, Resolutions must be passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas recommending the relevant person for appointment. The Resolutions were passed by the Dáil and the Seanad on the on the 25 and 26 of April respectively. As the Resolutions have successfully been passed in both Houses, the Minister is now reverting to Government to seek a decision to formally appoint Mr Harbinson.
The enactment of the new Policing and Community Safety Bill will result in the dissolution of the Authority and provide for the establishment of a new independent oversight body replacing the Policing Authority and the Garda Síochána Inspectorate. The new body will encompass functions of both the Authority and the Garda Síochána Inspectorate as well as a range of community safety-related functions.
The Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill will provide for a new governance and oversight framework for policing as recommended by Commission on the Future of Policing.
It is proposed that Mr Harbinson’s appointment will be for the period until 8 March 2024 (the expiry term date of the recently resigned member), or upon the dissolution of the Authority following the enactment of the Policing, Security and Community Act, whichever is the sooner.
The PSCS Bill completed Dáil Committee Stage on 9 May 2023.