Legislation establishing the new independent policing authority will be published in May, Government chief whip Paul Kehoe has said.

The authority will bring a further layer of public accountability to the administration of policing services and act as a buffer between politicians and An Garda.

Mr Paul Kehoe said the legislation was a priority for Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald and said he hoped the Bill would be published “by April or May”.

The Government appointed the outgoing chairman of the Revenue Commissioners Josephine Feehily as the new chairperson of the Policing Authority in November.

Ms Feehily will take control of establishing the authority until it becomes fully operational.