High-powered review group composed of individuals of wide-ranging experience

Members had expertise in policing, law public adminstration and governance

Former chief inspector of the Garda Inspectorate Kathleen O’Toole was a member of the review group into the Department of Justice
Former chief inspector of the Garda Inspectorate Kathleen O’Toole was a member of the review group into the Department of Justice

The high-powered expert group which carried out the review of the Department of Justice was composed of individuals with wide-ranging experience across the broader public service, policing, the law as well as in the private sector.

The group was chaired by Kevin Toland who has been chief executive of the Dublin Airport Authority since January of last year. Prior to this appointment he was was chief executive and president of Glanbia USA & Global Nutritionals, based in Chicago. Previously he held a number of senior management positions with Coca-Cola Bottlers in Russia and with Grand Metropolitan in Ireland and Central Europe.

The review goup also included the former Attorney General David Byrne who also served previously as an European commissioner. He currently sits on the board of DCC where he is deputy chairman.

Another member of the review group was the former chief inspector of the Garda Inspectorate, Kathleen O'Toole. Prior to her appointment she was the first female police commissioner of Boston, Massachusetts from 2004 to 2006 and served as Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety. In May this year she was nominated to serve as chief of the Seattle Police Department.

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Another member ofthe review group was Geraldine Tallon who served as secretary general of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government from 2007 to 2014.

Another review group member, Pat McLoughlin, the former chief executive of the Irish Payment Services Organisation (IPSO) had previously served as deputy chief executive of the HSE and had headed its national hospitals office. He was also a member of the special group on public service numbers and expenditure programmes - also known as An Bord Snip Nua.

Greg Sparks, who was also a member of the review group, is a founding partner of RSM Farrell Grant Sparks. He specialises in consulting and corporate finance with a particular focus on programme planning and implementation and change management. He has served on the boards of The Irish Times, Eircom and the Strategic Investment Board in Northern Ireland. He was chairman of the Coombe Hospital and was a member of the audit committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas.

Martin Wall

Martin Wall

Martin Wall is the Public Policy Correspondent of The Irish Times.