€250,000 pay for new Garda chief

A SALARY of up to €250,000 is on offer to an “inspirational leader” who will take on the “extremely challenging” role as the next Garda Commissioner.

The recruitment process to find Nóirín O’Sullivan’s successor has officially begun and applicants have just under five weeks to send in their CVs.

The negotiable salary is around €70,000 more than previous commissioners received, reflecting pay levels for the most senior officers at other police forces internationally.

Applicants from other countries are not ruled out and specifications state that “while not essential, experience in a policing role is desirable”. They must also “be comfortable providing accountability in public”. Ms O’Sullivan and her predecessors were frequently grilled by Dáil committees over various Garda controversies.

Commissioners are also obliged to appear before the Policing Authority.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said the process was designed to “attract the widest possible pool of high calibre candidates”.

The procedure will take approximately four months.