District Court Judge Michael Reilly has been appointed by the Minister for Justice as the new Inspector of Prisons.
Judge Reilly was the former chairman of the criminal justice system subgroup of the National Crime Council and has just recently completed an inquiry for the government of the Seychelles, having been nominated by the Irish authorities.
He takes over the role from the former High Court judge Mr Justice Dermot Kinlen, who died in July.
The appointment will take effect from January 1st next and will be for a five-year period.
Announcing the appointment, Minister Lenihan said: "It is important that we have independent oversight of our prison regime."
The Office of the Inspector of Prisons was set up under the Prisons Act, 2007.
The Inspector is expected to carry out regular inspections of prisons and submit an annual report to the Minister on the state of the service.