The main Garda staff association, the Garda Representative Association, has selected a general secretary to replace Mr John Ferry, who retired from the position two years ago.
The association's central executive yesterday voted to support the selection of Mr P.J. Stone, who was deputy general secretary for six years and who has been acting general secretary since Mr Ferry's retirement.
Under new rules, Mr Stone's appointment has to be further ratified by a two-thirds majority of the GRA's annual delegate conference next month.
Mr Stone, who is in his mid-40s, worked as a detective in Waterford until becoming involved on a full-time basis in the association as assistant to Mr Ferry in 1993. During his time in office, the association underwent an acrimonious split leading to some 2,500 of the total membership of 8,000 breaking away to form a rival staff association known as the Garda Federation.
Mr Stone was centrally involved in the negotiations to end the split, and the breakaway faction dissolved itself and its members rejoined the GRA in 1997. Immediately, Mr Stone led the association into a tough round of pay talks with the Government, seeking rises above the national public sector pay agreements.
This culminated in the first march on the Dail by members of the force a year ago followed by two days of industrial action in which a large majority of members called in sick on what became known as "blue flu" days.
The dispute was settled after the Government made an offer giving gardai pay rises of between 9 and 13 per cent.
Mr Stone is part of further negotiations seeking additional payments for gardai in respect of the introduction of computerised information systems and for new working arrangements.
He was an outspoken critic of the last minister for justice, Mrs Nora Owen, who had threatened to dissolve the GRA if it did not settle its internal disputes. In January 1996 Mr Stone accused Mrs Owen of not having the political will to tackle serious crime.
Within seven months, after the murders of Det Garda Jerry McCabe and the journalist Veronica Guerin, the Government introduced the most far-reaching of legislation to combat organised crime in the history of the State.
Two other members of the GRA central executive and a small number of outside figures applied for the post of general secretary. They were interviewed by a selection panel which made its recommendation on Mr Stone's appointment to the executive yesterday.
Although there was no official comment it is understood that Mr Stone comfortably secured the support of the 28 members of the central executive.