The Cabinet will decide on appointing a new general secretary of the Department of Justice tomorrow to replace Mr Tim Dalton. The Top Levels Appointments Commission interviewed candidates for the post yesterday, and will send three names to the Government, from which the appointment will be made.
The appointment is seen as coming at a crucial time, as the Garda Síochána confronts the biggest crisis in its history, and the future of the Northern Ireland peace process hinges on matters coming under the general responsibility of the Department of Justice.
Mr Dalton played a major role in relation to Northern Ireland during his tenure.
Leading contenders for the job include Mr Seán Aylward, until recently head of the newly-established Irish Prison Service, which he helped establish as an independent body. He was formerly press officer for Mr Haughey, and worked for many years in the Department of Justice before taking over the Irish Prison Service. Also seen as a leading contender is Ms Sylda Langford, head of the equality section of the Department of Justice. A former social worker, she has been responsible for many of the equality and law reform initiatives of the Department.
Mr Diarmuid Cole, also a long-serving senior official in the Department, is another contender. Mr Richard Barrett, who has worked both for the attorney general's office and the Criminal Assets Bureau, is a candidate, as is Ms Catherine Treacy, who has worked in the Land Registry Office.