Shatter Changes Regulations to Allow Senior PSNI Officers to Join the Gardai

[C. Flower]

Alan Shatter has changed regulations to allow PSNI Officers to be appointed as Gardai up to Assistant Commissioner level. Appointment to the highest posts is at the discretion of the Government.

Among the many questions this raises is the obvious one of to which state the individual is loyal, and whether they would have sufficient knowledge of Irish law and regulations to do the job.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-17364704

There has been a joint Garda / PSNI rugby team since last year. Is this what SF means by a United Ireland ?

http://www.independent.ie/national-n...m-2886734.html

[Baron von Biffo]

Garda solemn declaration upon appointment here.

Presumably the recruitment process would determine suitability in the same way as for traditional recruits.

[fluffybiscuits]

The Public Appointments Commission is always advertising positions in the NI civil service. Its a step in the right direction but you are spot on CF, how do we ensure those coming from the PSNI are at least in tune with the needs of the police.

[TotalMayhem]

An Garda Síochána hiring again?

[PaddyJoe]

Apparently the PSNI were looking to recruit 'senior officers in the gardai' last year.
It's all just another step in that dastardly new world order conspiracy to coerce us all into a united Ireland

[C. Flower]

Apparently the PSNI were looking to recruit 'senior officers in the gardai' last year.

It's all just another step in that dastardly new world order conspiracy to coerce us all into a united Ireland

Well, that's OK then. Having the Gardaí run by unionists should certainly promote unity of some kind.

[Saoirse go Deo]

Well, that's OK then. Having the Gardaí run by unionists should certainly promote unity of some kind.

I'd view it as a filtering down of unionist influence

[C. Flower]

I'd view it as a filtering down of unionist influence

I'm not quite sure what you mean by that.

The Gardaí is an essential part of the State forces and its loyalty to the State should be without question.

I would feel it would be deeply naive to assume any such loyalty on the part of a high ranking PSNI officer.

The British Government and State safeguards its own interests, as it sees fit, not ours. In a number of important legal cases and enquiries, and in relation to the Dublin and Monaghan bombing, the British Government has refused to release papers to the Gardaí or the Irish Government.

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

I'd prefer to see the top ranks of the Gardai replaced by an outside team from Sweden, Denmark or somewhere with a tradition of police work uninterrupted by phone calls from Ministers myself.

[Saoirse go Deo]

I'm not quite sure what you mean by that.

The Gardaí is an essential part of the State forces and its loyalty to the State should be without question.

I would feel it would be deeply naive to assume any such loyalty on the part of a high ranking PSNI officer.

The British Government and State safeguards its own interests, as it sees fit, not ours. In a number of important legal cases and enquiries, and in relation to the Dublin and Monaghan bombing, the British Government has refused to release papers to the Gardaí or the Irish Government.

One would hope that senior PSNI people would be replaced with those of a nationalist persuasion (or a least a "new generation" of moderate unionists)

[Richardbouvet]

I really cant see a problem. Inividual PSNI people, especially those interested in joining the Gardai, cannot be held responsible for past actions of the British Government.

As for loyalty to the Irish State, they will have ample opportunity to satisfy an interview board of this.

[fluffybiscuits]

I'd view it as a filtering down of unionist influence

They have to be given some influence of power if we are going to want a united Ireland. The great thing about the Unionists making mistakes is that we get to learn from them and therefore get to be the "bigger man". The RUC/PSNI whatever you want to call them is still predominantly Protestant in terms of its demographics but this gesture gives them some power, or an illusion of it perhaps. I wouldnt see it as a compromise if anything its a reconciliation gesture. I can understand though fully why you may view it with suspicion , I would myself

[Saoirse go Deo]

The RUC was over 40% catholic at its foundation. There have always been castle catholics and shoneens, I'm yet to be convinced fully that the catholics joining the PSNI are not these things.

[Richardbouvet]

And the Gardai are all staters. Same difference.

[C. Flower]

We are either an independent State or not, in terms of our relations with the U.K. When it's finally all gone, you will miss it.

Having PSNI personnel run the Gardaí, part of our State forces, is like being "a little bit pregnant".

If the GFA was designed as a transition to a united Ireland, how come structures involve also Scotland, Wales and England ?