The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has today severely criticised the independence of the selection process for the appointment of Deputy Commissioners in an Garda Siochana.

Despite the establishment of an independent interview board, comprising of civilian and Garda members, to carry out the selection process for this most important senior rank the process is still subject to micro management by the Department of Justice.

"Following the interview phase, the interview board must then forward a list of three names, in alphabetical order and without recommendation, to the Department who then make the final selection. We consider this to be an unacceptable level of interference," said GRA Secretary PJ Stone. "It essentially means that the independent interview board is being usurped by the decision making process of the Department."

"The post of Deputy Commissioner is second only to the Garda Commissioner and any interview board must be free to carry out its own selection process following the conduct of interviews. We consider what is happening to be unacceptable in any modern democracy."

ENDS