Organisation information
Peace Commissioners
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
Peace Commissioners are appointed (and may be removed from that appointment) by the Minister for Justice under Section 88 of the Courts of Justice Act 1924.
A Peace Commissioner is an honorary appointment and those appointed receive no remuneration or compensation by way of fees or expenses for their services.
The powers and duties of Peace Commissioners consist primarily of:
The Courts of Justice Act 1924 also gives Peace Commissioners the power to issue summons and warrants but these powers are now rarely used.
The Department of Justice maintains the Roll of Peace Commissioners. While every effort is made to keep this Roll up to date, the records do not always reflect the actual situation on the ground because the department is reliant on the Peace Commissioners themselves and other interested parties to advise of changes in the personal circumstances of individual Peace Commissioners since their appointment.
Your local Garda (police) station may be able to give you the name and address of a Peace Commissioner. The Gardaí use their services in the course of their duties and should be in a position to supply the name and address of one who is active in your area.
Alternatively you may contact the Peace Commissioner Unit of the Department of Justice who are happy to assist individuals who require the services of a Peace Commissioner. They can be contacted on (01) 8592323 or at info@justice.ie
There are no qualifying examinations or educational standards required to be appointed as a Peace Commissioner but you are required to be a person of good character. Most Peace Commissioners are well established in their local community. Anyone who has been charged with or convicted of a serious offence will not be considered for appointment.
It is important to note that appointment as Peace Commissioner is entirely at the discretion of the Minister for Justice, having regard to the requirement for an additional Peace Commissioner in the area and the suitability of the nominee/applicant. Your suitability for appointment or your standing in the local community does not confer any automatic entitlement to be appointed as a Peace Commissioner.
Those being considered for appointment as a Peace Commissioner should be aware that the Minister for Justice reserves the right to verify with the Gardai that you have never been charged or convicted of a serious offence.
If you are already serving as a Peace Commissioner and are subsequently convicted for a serious offence, your appointment as a Peace Commissioner will cease immediately.
People involved in the administration of Criminal Justice such as, solicitors and their staff, Gardaí, employees of the Irish Prison Service and members of the clergy are, as a matter of practice, not appointed because of their occupation.
Civil Servants and individuals working in the Prison Service are usually only appointed where the performance of their official duties requires an appointment (that is, ex-officio).
You may apply to be appointed as a Peace Commissioner on your own behalf, or you may be nominated by another person or you can nominate someone you feel would be suitable for this position.
The application for appointment must be in writing and should include information about the nominee and the reasons why you or they may be suitable for appointment. Applications by email are accepted however applicants should ensure that their home address is included in their application.
Send your personal application (or your nomination) with contact details in writing to:
Peace Commissioners should be aware that the appointment to this role carries with it an obligation to respect the integrity of the Office and to behave to the highest standards and that this obligation extends to the making of any comments on social media platforms for example, WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Twitter or other public fora.
It is important to be mindful of the implications of engaging in social media and online conversations. Comments made in a personal capacity can sometimes be attributed or perceived as the official position of the Department of Justice.
When using social media, whether in a personal capacity or otherwise, Peace Commissioners are required to:
In the event of any breach of these guidelines the Minister for Justice reserves the right to remove a Peace Commissioner from office.