Sir, – From my experience of working for a number of organisations, large and small, in the UK and Ireland, which underwent change, uncertainty about who in the organisation is the champion of change is a prime factor in the change process failing.
Change imposed from outside without such a champion is almost guaranteed to fail.
To delay the appointment of a Garda commissioner unduly would exacerbate the risk of failure.
In my opinion, a commissioner should be appointed in the regular way, perhaps on a short-term (three-year) contract, as the champion of change, and should be a member of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, with the option of being made permanent on the successful completion of the change process. – Yours, etc,
RICHARD D NOLAN,
Cratloe,
Co Clare.