New Garda chief wanted ‘...experience not essential’
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THE Government has advertised the Garda Commissioner job – and there is no need to have previous experience in policing.
The €250,000-a-year successful candidate will take over from acting boss Donal O Cualain.
The closing date for applications is April 12 but the most shocking line is about hopefuls’ career history.
The post on publicjobs.ie said: “Experience in a policing role is desirable but not essential.”
The advert goes on to say the role is “extremely challenging”.
It reads: “The Garda Siochana, Ireland’s national police and security service, is growing, reforming and changing.
“This is a unique opportunity to lead, manage and develop a service which is due to expand by up to 30% over the next few years.
“The role of commissioner is extremely challenging, wide-ranging and high-profile.
“It requires an exceptional candidate who is an inspirational leader, accomplished senior manager and a person of utmost integrity.
“You will possess the experience and stature to immediately gain respect and instil confidence across an organisation with over 16,000 people and a budget of €1.6billion.
“Your personal impact, leadership and communication skills will drive positive change and reform across the service. Experience in a policing role is desirable but not essential.”
Garda Representative Association spokesman John O’keeffe has called into question the declaration the candidate does not need prior experience of policing.
QUALIFIED
He said: “A CEO of a company would almost certainly be a person of vast business experience and/or professionally qualified in that field of work.
“Policing organisations should be no different.”
Mr O’keeffe said a civilian commissioner was appointed in the late 1950s but it was not a success.
He added: “There wasn’t one before or since and, respectfully, this was not coincidental.
“Nor is it a coincidence that most police forces globally appoint police men and women to head up their organisations. The net for the previous competition for Commissioner was international and had a worldwide brief yet the person most designated as suitable for the job at that time was a police officer in An Garda Siochana.” Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan welcomed the international nature of the selection process.
He said: “The role of Commissioner, the most senior post in Irish policing, is extremely challenging.
“The overriding concern of all stakeholders has been to ensure this process is designed to attract the widest possible pool of high-calibre candidates, so that whoever is selected by the Authority for appointment is tested against a strong field.”