A former secretary general to the President has been appointed as a confidential recipient of information from Garda whistleblowers.
Brian McCarthy, who retired last year as Secretary General to the President, will receive reports from gardaí and civilians who want to report corruption or malpractice in the force.
The appointment is based on a proposal contained in the reports of the Morris tribunal.
The Garda Síochána (Confidential Reporting of Corruption or Malpractice) Regulations 2007 also provide for the appointment of internal confidential recipients by the Garda Commissioner, from both gardaí and civilian employees with An Garda Síochána.
The new appointments are expected to come into effect at the end of March.
Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan described Mr McCarthy as "a man of the highest integrity" and wished him well in his new role.
"Our police service must operate to the highest standards, and the implementation of this system is a further measure to help ensure that corruption or malpractice cannot exist within An Garda Síochána," he said.
However, Sinn Féin Justice Spokesperson Aengus Ó Snodaigh said the system would only be a success if the Garda Ombudsman Commission is properly resourced to undertake the resulting investigative work.