Minister for Justice Helen McEntee invites expressions of interest for members of the new Policing and Community Safety Authority

The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, is inviting expressions of interest from suitably qualified candidates for appointment to An tÚdarás Póilíneachta agus Sábháilteachta Pobail – the new Policing and Community Safety Authority.

The new Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 provides for the establishment of the new Authority, which will merge the broad-ranging oversight functions of the existing Policing Authority and the inspection functions of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, superseding both bodies.

The State Boards process, which can be accessed here: Appointments to the Policing and Community Safety Authority , seeks to appoint a Chairperson and eight ordinary members of the Authority.

The objective of the Authority will be to oversee and assess in an independent and transparent manner the performance by An Garda Sìochàna of its function relating to policing services in order to support the effective provision and continuous improvement of such services to the benefit of the safety of the public.

The Authority’s functions include:

• to oversee and keep under review the performance by An Garda Síochána of its function relating to policing services;

• to carry out inspections at its own initiative or at the request of the Minister for Justice;

• to promote the policing principles set down in section 4 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024;

• to promote professional policing standards (including human rights standards) and continual improvement of policing;

• to promote inter–agency collaboration and community engagement to improve community safety and

• to undertake, commission or assist in policing research projects and provide policy advice to the Minister for Justice.

The Authority shall also, with the approval of the Minister, determine priorities for An Garda Síochána in performing its functions relating to policing services.

The Authority will continue to hold meetings, some of which will be public, with the Garda Commissioner and with the new Director of the National Office for Community Safety established under Part 3 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.

Speaking today, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said:

Gardaí provide one of the most crucial functions in the running of our country and the men and women of An Garda Síochána have developed strong community links over the century since its establishment.

We want to maintain those links and build on the trust and confidence that is already there, and robust independent oversight is essential for that.

The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which has allowed for the establishment of An tÚdarás Póilíneachta agus Sábháilteachta Pobail – the Policing and Community Safety Authority , means that we can ensure that our police service has modern and effective oversight and accountability mechanisms and bodies in place.

Leading the Authority as Chairperson or joining as one of eight ordinary members will be an engaging and challenging assignment for candidates of integrity looking to make a real difference in Irish society.

ENDS…//

Notes to the Editor:

• Link to the State Boards advertisement: Appointments to the Policing and Community Safety Authority

• Link to Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 can be found here: https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2024/act/1/section/147/enacted/en/html

• The Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 was developed based on the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing which reported in 2018 having comprehensively examined all aspects of policing including all functions carried out by An Garda Síochána and the totality of the oversight arrangements.

• It provides for a new framework for policing and community safety aimed at improving the performance and accountability of our police service to the benefit of the safety of communities, and new arrangements for national security.

• The Policing and Community Safety Authority will hold as many meetings as may be necessary for the performance of its functions. However, at least four meetings with the Garda Commissioner will be held in public per year.