Hunt is on for Garda chief, and no police experience is required
THE vacancy at the head of An Garda Síochána has been advertised – and policing experience is not essential.
The position of Garda Commissioner was advertised yesterday by the Public Appointments Service, with a salary cap of €250,000.
This is an increase of €70,000 from the current €180,000 salary.
Whoever becomes the next Garda Commissioner will negotiate their salary up to the €250,000 cut-off point. The advert specifically states that policing experience is not essential.
The post has been vacant since former commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan’s sudden retirement last September.
An email address is supplied in the advert for prospective candidates to contact to
Job has salary cap of €250,000
arrange a ‘confidential discussion’.
The closing date for applications is April 12.
The advert states that the successful candidate will have a ‘unique opportunity’ to manage and lead a service due to expand by 30% in the next five years.
It further states the successful candidate will be an ‘exceptional’ and ‘inspirational leader’ and will have ‘the utmost integrity’.
‘You will possess the experience and stature to immediately gain respect and instil confidence across an organisation with 16,000 members and a budget of €1.6billion,’ the advert reads. ‘Your personal impact, leadership and communication skills will drive positive change and reform across the service.’
As well as the salary increase, Cabinet has already agreed that other incentives may need to be offered to secure the right candidate. They include a budget for travel to and from Ireland and private education costs for any dependent children.
It has been implied that as an external candidate would be coming into the Garda for five years, pension entitlements would not apply and so a special financial arrangement might be made in addition to base salary.
However, none of those additional details has been set out in the job description or advertisements for the post.
But the advertisement made it clear the base salary was part of a wider ‘remuneration package’.
The recruitment process is being overseen by the Policing Authority, which has devised the competition.
However, the Public Appointments Service is running that process. The Policing Authority will ultimately recommend a candidate for the post, which can be accepted or rejected by Government.
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said the process should take four months. Informed sources said some additional time might be needed for security checks.
‘The role of commissioner, the most senior post in Irish policing, is extremely challenging,’ Mr Flanagan said.
‘The overriding concern of all stakeholders has been to ensure that this process is designed to attract the widest possible pool of high-calibre candidates.’