IRISH NOT TOP OF THE COPS
Garda chiefs aren’t coming through the ranks
IRELAND’S police force could be run by non-nationals in the coming years, senior gardai have warned the Justice Minister.
Ireland could soon be unique in the sense that the three top police officers in the State are not from the country.
After the failure to fill the post of deputy commissioner this week it is now likely that position will go to a non-garda applicant.
This will almost certainly mean the officer responsible for the sensitive role of national security as well as fighting terrorism and organised crime will not be from here.
The alert came after a recruitment drive for the post of deputy commissioner closed on Thursday without applications from any highranking officer. Applications came from a member of the PSNI, and a senior officer in a UK police force, the Irish Times reported. This would mean that the three top police officers in the country did not come up through the ranks of An Garda Siochana. In a ballot the overwhelming majority of rank-and-file gardai voted no confidence in the current Garda Commissioner Drew Harris who joined the force from the PSNI. If his deputy was to be appointed from another force it is believed this would further damage morale which at present is said to be at very low ebb.
Serving high-ranking officers will not apply for top jobs because pension and tax rules mean anyone applying for senior positions are likely to be stuck with huge tax when they retire.
However, someone taking these senior posts from outside the force might be attracted by the salary and would not be hit with the same tax bill.
The Government claims this rule applies to everyone and it cannot be changed for any particular group.
Senior officers have reportedly warned Justice Minister Helen Mcentee that six out of the eight assistant commissioners and up to 20 chief superintendents, out of 48, are likely to leave the force in the next 12 months.