The Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern has dismissed as “hog wash” suggestions by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (Agsi) that the Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan has assumed the power of promoting Garda members from the Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy.
Agsi president Paschal Feeney told delegates at the association’s annual conference in Athlone, Co Westmeath, that under the new public sector recruitment and promotion freeze Garda promotions would only be made in “exceptional circumstances” decided by Mr Lenihan.
However, Mr Ahern said the Government was simply seeking to monitor promotions across the entire public sector. He insisted Mr Murphy’s power to assign individuals to particular positions was in now way being compromised.
“The Minister for Finance may sanction appointments or promotions to posts in exceptional circumstances but the process of selection of individual candidates for these posts will remain in the normal independent competitive process.”
He added that despite the public sector recruitment and promotions freeze the Government was still aware many Garda vacancies needed to be filled as they arose to ensure the efficient running of the force.
He told delegates everything would be done to protect front line policing services.
Garda numbers would increase by 500 this year. Thereafter the impact of ceasing Garda recruitment would be assessed.
“Where expenditure has to reduce I have tried to ensure that the resources available to the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána are spared the sharp edge of those reductions,” Mr Ahern told delegates.
He said it was the Fianna Fáil led Government that had increased Garda numbers from 12,000 three years ago to a record of near 15,000 by the end of this year.