Callinan to stay on as Commissioner

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan will stay on in his position for two years after he was due to retire on age grounds next summer.

The Cabinet today approved the two-year extension to his team after the move was proposed by Minister for Justice and Defence Alan Shatter.

Mr Callinan took over as the head of the force on the retirement of Fachtna Murphy in December 2010. He turns 60 years next August and was due to retire on age grounds at that stage.

However, his retirement has now been pushed back until August 2015.

Mr Shatter said he was pleased with the move adding that Mr Callinan had overseen radical and extensive change during his brief term to date.

A highly effective police force was being maintained at a time of pressure on resources and continuity of leadership was valuable. Mr Shatter also pointed out that recorded crime has been dropping consistently in recent years.

“Week in week out, the activities of gangs have been tackled and this has been reflected in very substantial drugs seizures,” he said.

“The activities of criminal terrorist groups continue to be addressed robustly and co-operation between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland has never been better.”

Mr Callinan joined An Garda Síochána in 1973 and in his early years, served in Waterford, Blanchardstown, Cabra, the former Central Detective Unit, Pearse Street, Terenure, Swinford and the crime and security section at Garda Headquarters in Phoenix Park, Dublin.

He was appointed assistant commissioner in 2005, and in January 2007 he became a deputy commissioner.

He holds a BA in police management. In 1995, he undertook management training at the FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia, where he completed the national executive institute programme which is designed for police chiefs from around the world.

Fianna Fáil justice spokesman  Niall Collins welcomed the extension of Mr Callinan's term, saying it was a "critical time" for an garda síochána

"We need strong leadership at the top of the force to ensure that the case for proper support of the gardaí continues to be made at the highest level and to ensure that we continue to have effective policing plans that put communities first," he said.