HR chief says watchdog units removed to ‘send a message’

THE head of Garda Human Resources has described to the Public Accounts Committee his regret that the Garda Internal Affairs Unit and the Professional Standards Unit were removed from his control.

The revelation is contained in a private submission made to the PAC last week. The Dáil committee will report this week on its investigation into financial irregularities at the Garda College at Templemore.

The report is expected to be critical of senior Garda management. It will also seek to present clarity on conflicts of evidence between Nóirín O’Sullivan and senior civilian members of Garda management. The PAC can’t deliver findings against individuals.

Mr Barrett delivered a further 88-page submission to the PAC. He says the two responsibilities were removed from his control ‘to send a message’. ‘Within the organisation… the removal of two critical areas of organisation which were within my ambit of control were seen to send a message,’ he wrote.

‘The message which many people “translated” for me in conversation was that the determination shown by Mr [Ken] Ruane [head of Garda legal affairs] and myself to stand by his advice and my determination to ensure that the matters arising were dealt with transparently and professionally was not appreciated.

‘It was repeatedly commented upon that there was an irony in having Internal Affairs and Garda Professional Standards Unit removed from Human Resources and People Development on foot of the executive director of HR and PD [Mr Barrett] to stand up for professional standards.

‘Very regrettably these critical functions still remain outside the Human Resources ambit presently.’