Sir, – I am amazed that the Minister for Justice has decided to extend the search for a new Garda commissioner to foreign nationals ("Search for new Garda commissioner to go overseas but may be protracted", June 21st).
The Garda commissioner is responsible for all domestic intelligence gathering through the Crime and Security Branch. The idea of appointing a non-national to head up the FBI in the US or MI5 in the UK would be rightly risible in those countries. Ireland, like other countries, has interests that may be similar but are never the same as those of other states. For example, there are ongoing differences between the Irish government and the UK over the investigation of the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings. Furthermore, how would a non-national receive top-level security clearance in this country? Time to think again, Minister. – Yours, etc,
EDWARD BURKE,
Burgatia,
Rosscarbery,
Co Cork.