Government names Garda head and details new crime measures

MR Pat Byrne was confirmed as the new Garda Commissioner as the Government fleshed out other elements of its anti-crime package last night.

Ten new judges were nominated by the Government for appointment by the President, Mrs Robinson, including three solicitors who are elevated to The Circuit Court for the first time.

Mr Diarmuid O'Donovan SC, has been nominated for the High Court and nine judges have been named for the Circuit Court.

The appointment of Mr Byrne, for seven years from July 21st, will be on the basis of a contract "which will, inter alia, require him to co-operate fully" with the review of the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the Garda Siochana, according to the Government announcement.

He will also be required to implement, on a time-scale to be determined by the Government, decisions taken on foot of interim or final recommendations of the Strategic Management Initiative Co-Ordinating Group.

The Government also appointed Mr Noel Conroy, currently assistant Commissioner, to replace Mr Byrne as Deputy Commissioner.

The nine new Circuit Court judges nominated are: Mr Anthony Kennedy, SC Mr Kevin Haugh; SC Mr John Buckley, solicitor in Hickey, Beauchamp Beecham and O'Reilly; Mr Frank O'Donnell, litigation partner in Bell, Brannigan, O'Donnell and O'Brien; Mr Michael White, solicitor with Michael D. White and Partners; Mr Raymond Groarke, barrister; Ms Alison Lindsay, barrister; Ms Elizabeth Dunne, barrister and Ms Olive Buttimer, barrister.

The membership and terms of reference of the review of the efficiency and cost effectiveness of the Garda Siochana were also agreed by the Government. The steering group will be chaired by Mr Tony Barry, chairman of Cement Roadstone Holdings plc, and the former deputy Commissioner of the New York Police Department, Mr John Timoney, will be among its members.

The Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin, received Cabinet approval to draft a Bill to deal with housing aspects of the drugs problem, in which anti-social behaviour will be defined to focus on drug-pushing and related activity. The Bill will provide for barring orders.

Mr Howlin is also to seek, in consul tat ion with the President of the District Court, amendments to the District Court Rules and a request for separate District Court sittings to speed up procedures in relations to evictions for anti-social behaviour.

The Government announced the setting up of a Ministerial Task Force, chaired by Mr Pat Rabbitte, to review arrangements for a co-ordinated approach to reducing the demand for drugs.

The Minister for Justice Mrs Owen, briefed the Government on work in progress on the Fianna Fail organised Crime Restraint and Disposal of Illicit Assets Bill. Following extensive amendments and redrafting, it is expected that the Committee Stage of the Bill will be taken on July 23rd and completed at the"

plenary Dail sitting on July 25th. Patsy McGarry writes:

Mr Chris Finnegan of the Garda Federation has welcomed the appointment of Mr Pat Byrne as Commissioner-designate of the Garda.

Speaking to The Irish Times last night he referred to a statement recently issued by the group saying a new Commissioner would need to bring qualities of energy, enthusiasm, and an element of risk taking to the job. The Garda Federation is satisfied that Commissioner-designate possesses all these qualities, he said.

The Government's crime package was broadly welcomed by the president of the Garda Representative Association, Mr Healy, at a one-day conference in Limerick yesterday.

The Association of Chief Superintendents has called for a broader review of the criminal justice system as part of the Government's anti-crime package.