THE GOVERNMENT is expected in coming days to fill senior Garda vacancies just one week after Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said the increasing number of unfilled management posts needed to be addressed immediately.
The Irish Timeshas learned that Minister for Justice Alan Shatter had last week arranged to bring a memo to Cabinet regarding the positions to be filled at officer ranks.
This means the issue will likely be on the agenda for tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting, with promotions to fill at least some of the 51 priority vacancies expected to be given final approval.
In response to queries last night, the Department of Justice confirmed that Mr Shatter had prepared a memo for Cabinet.
“The making of these appointments is appropriate now that the number of senior gardaí retiring at the end of this month is clear,” it added. “It was always intended that the appointments would be made early in February.”
Between last August and October, 51 gardaí were selected for promotion to the positions of assistant commissioner, chief superintendent and superintendent. However, in the intervening months none of the promotions has gone ahead. The number of promotions expected to be approved by Cabinet tomorrow is not clear.
The frank remarks by Mr Callinan before the Committee of Public Accounts last Thursday, when he called for the posts to be filled, was seen by many observers as significant.
Traditionally the holder of the office of Garda commissioner has not made public calls for more resources because it could be interpreted as interference in Government policy, in which the Garda has no role.
Opposition parties have also been critical of the failure to fill key posts, particularly when senior gardaí involved in the Anglo Irish Bank criminal investigation have retired and not been replaced.
Last week the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors warned there would be almost 200 vacant posts for inspectors and sergeants when those who have already signalled their intent to retire early leave at the end of this month.
Fianna Fáil’s spokesman on justice, Dara Calleary, yesterday launched a strong attack on Mr Shatter, describing as “utterly indefensible” his approach to the increasing number of vacancies.
He was particularly concerned that the investigation into alleged criminal misconduct at Anglo Irish Bank was being carried out by fewer members than in the past.
There were now 11 gardaí and eight members of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement investigating the case. Yet Mr Calleary noted that in 2010, the garda commissioner had put that number at 26 gardaí and 16 members of the ODCE.
Across the force, there are 61 vacancies among senior officer ranks.