GARDAÍ have accused the Department of Justice of interfering in the selection of senior officers in the force.

Rank-and-file leader PJ Stone claims the level of Departmental interference as a result of changes in promotion procedures is unacceptable.

Mr Stone, who is general secretary of the Garda Representative Association, wants the department to stay out of the selection process for the top posts of deputy commissioners.

Radical changes being implemented in the senior ranks by the Government will result in the creation of an extra deputy commissioner being appointed, with one of the three positions being held for the first time by a civilian.

The changes for reform follow recommendations from the Garda Inspectorate and the management advisory group, chaired by Senator Maurice Hayes.

The civilian appointee will deal with administration and resource management, including finance and information technology.

The existing deputy post in charge of operations is to be retained while another post for a deputy is being opened up to applications from chief superintendents as well as assistant commissioners.

But Mr Stone argues that despite the establishment of an independent interview board, comprising civilian and garda members, to oversee the selection procedures for this key post, the process is still subject to micro management by the Department.

"Following the interview phase," Mr Stone pointed out, "the interview board must then forward a list of three names, in alphabetical order and without recommendation, to the Department which makes the final selection.

"We consider this to be an unacceptable level of interference," he added.
"It essentially means that the independent interview board is being usurped by the decision-making process of the Department.

"The post of deputy is second only to the 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," Mr Stone said.

The top civilian, who will be called the chief administrative officer, is expected to be recruited in the first half of 2007, although the vacancy will not be created until the retirement of Deputy Commissioner Peter Fitzgerald in May 2008.

The other current deputy commissioner, Fachtna Murphy, was due to retire next June. However, he has been given a two-year extension.

Senator Hayes remarked that the most immediate problem arose from the imminent retirement of a significant cadre of senior officers.

These include Commissioner Noel Conroy, who is due to retire next November, a deputy and four assistant commissioners, all due to go within two years.