Press release
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee welcomes launch of recruitment campaign to appoint a Deputy Police Ombudsman
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD has today launched a recruitment competition to appoint a Deputy Police Ombudsman in accordance with the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024.
The competition will be conducted by the Public Appointments Service and the link to the competition can be found here - https://www.publicjobs.ie/en/?option=com_jobsearch&view=jobdetails&Itemid=263&cid=185754&campaignId=2486810.
This competition follows the launch of the competition for the Police Ombudsman on 9th February 2024. The recruitment process for the new Designate CEO of Fiosrú is also in progress.
As provided for in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) will be reconstituted as “Fiosrú” on commencement of the Act later this year.
The current three Commissioner model will be replaced by a single head of the organisation, the Police Ombudsman, supported by a Deputy Police Ombudsman and a Chief Executive Officer.
Speaking about the new role of Deputy Ombudsman, Minister McEntee said:
“The changes being delivered by the new Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 will simplify and streamline the GSOC investigation process and deliver a more efficient and effective complaints handling system.
Of course the Act also reforms the structure of the body itself.
Fiosrú will build on the vital work carried out by GSOC and the new Deputy Police Ombudsman will support the Police Ombudsman in guiding the organisation through this dynamic period to create a more streamlined Garda complaints system.”
The Act (which can be found here - https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2024/act/1/enacted/en/print) provides for the reconstitution of GSOC as Fiosrú, addressing the independence, organisation, and governance of the body, as well as the expansion of its existing remit and overhaul of its processes and procedures.
The changes will ensure that all complaints, other than an agreed list of service level complaints, will be investigated by Fiosrú. This will result in more independent assessment of allegations of Garda wrong-doing, including those that are identified other than by way of complaints from members of the public.
Overall, the changes will greatly strengthen the existing mechanisms for Garda accountability, enhance transparency and improve efficiency of the complaints process. As was the case with GSOC, the Police
Ombudsman, subject to the provisions of the Act, will be independent in the performance of his or her functions.
The closing date for applications is 14 March.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor:
• Link to the competition can be found here - https://www.publicjobs.ie/en/?option=com_jobsearch&view=jobdetails&Itemid=263&cid=185754&campaignId=2486810.
• Link to Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, as passed by both Houses of the Oireachtas, can be found here - https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/2024/act/1/enacted/en/print.
• 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.
• Fiosrú is to be formally established under Part 5 of the new Policing Security and Community Safety (PSCS) Act 2024.
• The Police Ombudsman, subject to the provisions of the Act, will be independent in the performance of his or her functions.
• Fiosrú will have its own Vote and the CEO will be the accounting officer.
• Among the functions of the Police Ombudsman are:
o Receiving and investigating complaints from members of the public about Garda personnel and other matters referred or notified by the Garda Commissioner, the Policing and Community Safety Authority or the Minister, where appropriate;
o engaging with An Garda Síochána to promote public understanding in respect of arrangements for handling of complaints suitable for resolution by An Garda Síochána;
o to establish and maintain systems and procedures for the receipt and handling of complaints and the conduct of investigations under Part 6 of the Bill and when doing so, to have regard to the need to exercise his or her functions in a timely, efficient and effective manner, and in accordance with fair procedures;
o to keep the Minister informed of matters relevant to the Government’s accountability to the Houses of the Oireachtas.
• The current number of staff in the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission as of January 2024 is 160 employees. The GSOC budget for 2024 is €19.6m which is an increase of 17% on 2023.