AN ASSISTANT Garda Commissioner, Mr Peter Fitzgerald, will be seconded from the force for a year to become commissioner of the United Nations International Police Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Minister for Justice, Ms Owen, has announced.
Mr Fitzgerald will run the largest civilian force ever deployed by the UN, with a total strength of 1,700 officers spread over 25 regions.
He said yesterday he was very pleased with the appointment as it reflected the high regard in which the Garda was held within the UN.
Mr Fitzgerald has previously served with the UN in Namibia and El Salvador and was chief of operations of civilian police in Cambodia. He served as the head of crime in Dublin's north inner city before his promotion to assistant commissioner with responsibility for training and research in the Garda.
Mr Fitzgerald said yesterday he did not yet know where.he would be based in the new position.
The UN made its formal request for Mr Fitzgerald's services last Friday. Yesterday Ms Owen said the Government had approved his secondment.
The Minister said "The commissioner post for the United Nations International Police Task Force will "be a very prestigious one and demonstrates the very high regard in which the outstanding contribution of the Garda Siochana to the work of the United Nations is held."
The role of the police task force in Bosnia has been defined as overseeing "the provision of a safe and secure environment for all persons in the area and to ensure that civilian law enforcement agencies are maintained in accordance with internationally recognised human rights and fundamental freedoms".
Since their initial involvement with the UN mission which oversaw Namibia's transition to independence in 1989-90, Garda contingents have served in Angola, Cambodia South Africa, Cyprus, Mozambique, Somalia, Western Sahara, Tajikistan and Yugoslavia.