Appointer Government of Ireland Inaugural holder Michael Staines | Term length 7 years | |
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Member of National Security Committee Reports to Minister for Justice and Equality Nominator Minister for Justice and Equality | ||
The Garda Commissioner (Irish: Coimisinéir an Gharda Síochána) – officially known as the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána – is the head of the Garda Síochána, the national police service of Ireland. The Garda Commissioner is appointed by the Government of Ireland (cabinet), on the recommendation of the Minister for Justice and Equality. The Commissioner reports to the Minister for Justice and Equality, in charge of the Department of Justice and Equality, of which the Garda Síochána is a state agency. The Garda Commissioner sits on the Irish government's National Security Committee (NSC), and is responsible for Ireland's domestic state security apparatus.
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The current Garda Commissioner is Nóirín O'Sullivan, who was appointed on a permanent basis on 25 November 2014 (having been interim during a competition process since March 2014).
History
Michael Staines became the first Garda Commissioner in February 1922, when the force was founded as the Civic Guard.
Traditionally, the Commissioner is the highest ranking police officer in the state, however the selection process for the position is now open to candidates from outside the force, outside a law enforcement agency and outside of the Republic of Ireland.
Nóirín O'Sullivan made history in becoming the first woman to lead the force when she was appointed in November 2014, having already served as the acting Garda Commissioner since March 2014.
Office of the Garda Commissioner
The Garda Commissioner sits at Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin 8 and is supported by a senior management team consisting of two Deputy Commissioners, a Chief Administrative Officer and twelve Assistant Commissioners;