THE GOVERNMENT’S promotion of more than 30 senior Garda officers to fill key vacancies has been criticised by Garda sergeants and inspectors and the Opposition as falling short of requirements.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said it was “extremely disappointed” by yesterday’s announcement, and that middle management ranks across the force had been left “decimated”.
Fianna Fáil said the promotions did not go far enough and that a high number of positions remained vacant, including on key investigations such as the criminal inquiry into Anglo Irish Bank.
The Cabinet yesterday approved the promotion of the 33 senior Garda officers just one week after Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan called for urgent action on senior vacancies that had arisen in recent months.
Minister for Justice Alan Shatter said he had secured sanction to appoint two assistant commissioners, eight chief superintendents and 23 superintendents.
The posts will be filled from promotions lists of successful candidates that were drawn up between last August and October but which had not been acted on before now.
The level of promotions remains some way short of the minimum 51 assistant commissioners’, chief superintendents’ and superintendents’ posts which Mr Callinan last week said needed to be filled immediately.
Mr Shatter said he was pleased the Government had sanctioned his request to press ahead with the promotions.
He also secured sanction to promote some Garda inspectors and sergeants into positions that will become vacant as a result of the more senior promotions.
“This is a very positive development at this time and these appointments reflect the commitment of the Government to maintain the supervisory and management ranks in An Garda Síochána at the highest level possible.”
However, the association said there would still be almost 200 vacancies at inspector and sergeant rank.
Its deputy general secretary, John Redmond, said it was clear senior officers had been able to access Mr Shatter and influence his decisions. However, the association had not even been granted a meeting with the Minister since he took office almost a year ago.
“Our members are the people on the spot in live situations managing teams of gardaí and giving advice and assistance to younger and more inexperienced gardaí.”
He said Pearse Street Garda station in Dublin’s south inner city was one of the busiest in the State, yet there were six sergeants’ vacancies there, meaning the station had only half the number of sergeants it should.
Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman Dara Calleary said Mr Shatter had delayed far too long in prioritising Garda promotions. And even now, the outcome fell far short of what Mr Callinan called for.
