The Cabinet has approved the appointment of 33 senior Garda officers just one week after Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan called for urgent action on the number of vacancies that had arisen at senior Garda level in recent months.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said he has secured sanction to appoint two assistant commissioners, eight chief superintendents and 23 superintendents.
The posts will be filled from promotions lists of successful candidates that were drawn up between last August and October but which had not been acted on before now.
The level of promotions remains some way short of the minimum 51 assistant commissioner, chief superintendents and superintendents posts Commissioner Callinan last week said needed to be filled immediately.
However, news that some promotions are to proceed will nonetheless be welcomed by senior gardaí.
Speaking after this morning’s Cabinet meeting, Mr Shatter said he was pleased the Government and in particular Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin had sanctioned his request to press ahead with the promotions.
Mr Shatter said he had also secured sanction to promote some Garda inspectors and sergeants into the positions that will become vacant as a result of the promotions into the higher ranks.
“This is a very positive development at this time and these appointments reflect the commitment of the Government to maintain the supervisory and management ranks in An Garda Síochána at the highest level possible.”
When Commissioner Callinan appeared before the Public Accounts Committee last Thursday he said it was imperative that at least the 51 promotions announced last year to the rank superintendent and higher be filled immediately. He noted even if all 51 were promoted, there would still be considerable gaps at senior management level across the force.
He said: “It is extremely important to me as commissioner that I would have all of those positions filled as soon as possible. By that, I mean all of the people who are on promotional lists waiting to be promoted.”
“Even with all of those [officers] being accommodated and those promotions filled, there is still a significant gap. I view it as essential that all of the people on the promotion lists be promoted as quickly as possible.”
