Press release
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee invites expressions of interest for the new Board of An Garda Síochána
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has today encouraged suitably qualified candidates to submit expressions of interest for membership of the new Garda Board.
A State Boards process to appoint a chairperson and ordinary members to the new Board has opened today. It will close at 3pm on Thursday 15 February 2024 and further details about the positions can be found here.
This new board is provided for in the Policing Security and Community Safety (PSCS) Bill, which passed all stages of the Seanad on 24 January. The Bill provides that the members of the Garda Board will be appointed by the Minister for Justice from persons recommended by the Public Appointments Service as suitable following an open selection process.
Speaking today about the establishment of the new Board, Minister Helen McEntee said:
“The formation of this Board is a very important component of the new legislation. It will strengthen the management and internal governance of An Garda Síochána.
"It will not have any role in relation to operational matters, as is the case with such boards generally.
"However it reflects the fact that a non-executive board is a corporate governance standard in the public and private sectors.”
The Bill has been developed based on the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and will provide a new coherent governance and oversight framework for policing that will strengthen An Garda Síochána.
The establishment of the new Garda Board is an important element of this new framework.
The Board will be a non-executive governance board, comprised of a chairperson and eight ordinary members, with a range of important governance functions. Membership will comprise independent-minded, experienced professionals in their respective fields.
The new board, through the corporate and governance expertise and external perspective of its members, will provide practical support along with robust, constructive challenge to the senior leadership team in An Garda Síochána.
The Minister continued:
“An Garda Síochána is carrying out some of the most critical functions of the State.
"This Board will support it to anticipate and respond to changes in the ways in which policing will need to be delivered in the coming decades. It will also provide assurance to the Minister of the day in relation to internal governance and risk management and mitigation.
"The Board will also support the Garda Commissioner by ensuring that the organisation has the most appropriate systems, processes and procedures in place to deliver a top class policing service in the State. It is not a however a substitute for robust external oversight of An Garda Síochána, and will in no way dilute the work of the new external oversight body to be established under the Bill - the Policing and Community Safety Authority - which will build on the good work done by the Policing Authority and the Garda Síochána Inspectorate.”
The Garda Commissioner will continue to be required to keep the Minister and the Secretary General of the department informed of significant matters, and to account to the Minister and Government for the provision of policing and security services by An Garda Síochána.
The Minister further highlighted the importance of this new Board, which will be accountable to the Minister for its performance, and encouraged people with relevant experience and expertise to apply for these important roles.
Appointments to the Board will be for a period of up to 4 years. Although the members are eligible for reappointment to the Board, a person who is reappointed to the Board shall not hold office for more than eight years.
The following persons are excluded from the positions:
The PSCS Bill has been developed based on the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland which reported in 2018 having comprehensively examined all aspects of policing including all functions carried out by An Garda Síochána and the totality of the oversight arrangements.
It provides for a new framework for policing and community safety aimed at improving the performance and accountability of An Garda Síochána to the benefit of the safety of communities, and new arrangements for national security.