Sweeping changes in the structure of An Garda Síochána, involving the employment of civilians at all levels in the force from senior management to clerical grades, have been proposed in two expert reports, write Stephen Collins, Political Correspondent and Conor Lally, Crime Correspondent.
The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell, has welcomed the recommendations and promised to implement them as quickly as possible.
The reports from the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, headed by former Boston police chief, Kathleen O'Toole, and the Garda Síochána Advisory Group, chaired by Senator Maurice Hayes, were published yesterday.
Both reports recommended the employment of far more civilians at all levels in the force up to the level of deputy commissioner. An international recruitment drive to fill future vacancies at Garda commissioner level has also been mooted.
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors welcomed the inspectorate's reports, saying the force was in need of thousands of additional civilian staff.
The Garda Representative Association said the proposals were "long overdue". The Association of Garda Superintendents also welcomed the proposals to recruit much greater civilian support and expertise.
The inspectorate report said that the structure of the Garda force was 20 years out of date as it had not moved decisively in the direction of civilianising senior management positions like police forces in Europe, North America, Australia and New Zealand.
Among the key recommendations of the two reports are:
The appointment of a civilian at deputy Garda commissioner level to deal with administration and resource management.
Both recommend a new post of assistant commissioner for professional standards, reporting direct to the Garda Commissioner.
The creation of three new executive civilian posts as legal adviser, director of human resource management and director of ICT.
The maximum delegation of operational responsibility to the assistant commissioners in charge of the regions, with appropriate support by civilian staff in areas such as finance, HR and analysis.
The appointment of a civilian director of communications.
The accelerated recruitment of civilian support staff so as to release gardaí for operational duties.
"I very much welcome these timely reports as a very significant contribution to the current reform and renewal of An Garda Síochána," Mr McDowell said.
"I have said on many occasions, and I say it again here now, that An Garda Síochána is one of the key organisations in the State, and one which has so many decent, dedicated and capable men and women.
"They are entitled to the fullest possible range of support. They deserve expert civilian support staff and an organisational structure which frees them to use their skill and experience on operational policing duties. These reports are a major step in that direction."
He said the Government was fully supportive of the recommendations and he would now be discussing their speedy implementation with the Garda Commissioner.
Labour Party justice spokesman Brendan Howlin said the reports were a useful contribution towards modernising the outdated and old-fashioned structures of our police service and he welcomed the recommendation on the need for accelerated recruitment of civilian support staff up to the level of deputy commissioner. "However, the belated admission of Fianna Fáil and the Progressive Democrats after 9½ years in government of the need for Garda reform, is only delivering change in a piecemeal fashion."
Green Party justice spokesman Ciarán Cuffe also welcomed the recommendations.