Latest news with #DrewHarris
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Report showing many roads gardaí not doing jobs 'shocking'
The chairperson of the Policing and Community Safety Authority has described as "shocking" a report which shows that a substantial number of gardaí assigned to Roads Policing are not doing their jobs and have no interest in doing them. The Garda Commissioner has promised to publish the Crowe Report which also shows that gardaí who were not carrying out their duties did not care that they were being monitored, and that their managers were not dealing with the problem. Drew Harris called their actions "brazen and contemptuous" and the report's conclusions "sobering". The disturbing details in this report emerged on the day that the gardaí launched another of its road safety campaigns. An independent review of roads policing was launched after a garda whistleblower informed garda headquarters that a substantial number of the gardaí tasked with policing the roads were not doing their jobs. The chairperson of the policing and community safety authority also pointed out that garda managers and supervisors in charge of those gardaí, were either unable, unwilling or afraid to do anything about it The chairperson of the Policing and Community Safety Authority described the report as shocking and said there are members within roads policing who seem very much disinterested in their job. The report also showed that not only were these gardaí not conducting speed checks or tests for drink and drug driving, they also did not care that they were being monitored and that their failure to do their job had been identified by the independent investigators. The chairperson Elaine Byrne also said she was not only concerned about the blatant disregard some members have, when they knew they were being reviewed by this but also about the absence of performance management. "They were in the cars with people, and they were openly hostile to doing their job," she said. "And I think once that report is published, you'll see that, but also perhaps another thing that we were shocked about is that there seem to be a deference or a fear of some management, of not actually doing performance management, and just a fear of actually being managers within guards, within Roads Policing." The Garda Commissioner called the actions of the gardaí "brazen" and "contemptuous" and said a working group had been established to implement its recommendations. He also said it was not just a matter of moving people on because the issues identified were "systemic". The findings of this report will be particularly distressing to the families of people who have lost loved ones on the roads because of speed, dangerous, drink or drug driving.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Times
Key challenges for incoming Garda commissioner Justin Kelly
Fifty-three-year-old Dubliner Justin Kelly is set to assume the mantle of leadership when Garda Commissioner Drew Harris retires in a month. Here are the key challenges he faces in the role. Garda numbers Garda numbers are at just over 14,300 despite targets of 15,000 in the short term and 18,000 in the years to come. The process of applying for the Garda, securing a place and getting a start date for training can be protracted. Consequently, some of those accepted into the force have secured other jobs or moved abroad by the time they receive a firm start date for training. As such, some of the classes passing out from the Garda College in Templemore , Co Tipperary, have been as low as 140 this year. That is far short of the 200 personnel the college can handle in each of its four intakes per year. As well as streamlining recruitment, the number of recruits in training also needs to be increased by using satellite Garda training centres, home study and other measures. READ MORE Domestic and gender-based violence Last month, Women's Aid published research that found 44 per cent of women who contacted the force for assistance over domestic violence or abuse found gardaí unhelpful. Though the Garda has established a National Protective Services Bureau for dealing with vulnerable victims targeted by sexual and gender-based violence, there is more work to do. It appears more training is required across the force, not just for a dedicated bureau or local units, to ensure an improved and more consistent response to victims of gender-based violence. Garda morale Relations between the commissioner and Garda Representative Association (GRA) have been extremely poor, so much so that it has been corrosive for morale in the force. The GRA, which represents more than 11,000 rank-and-file gardaí, has refused to invite the commissioner to its annual conference and also held a vote of no confidence in him. The commissioner was hired from the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2018. The fact that a so-called 'outsider' was appointed has been the source of considerable resentment for many in the Garda, especially the GRA. Though the incoming commissioner is not an outsider, that is no guarantee that relations between him and the representative group will be better. The GRA vs Harris dynamic has been such a problem for so long that it has become toxic. A reset may prove more challenging than even senior GRA personnel anticipate. The new commissioner must manage the situation carefully. Drug trade Violent gangland feuding – with up to 20 gun murders per year – was witnessed during the Celtic Tiger period and also a decade ago as the Kinahan-Hutch feud began. However, more recently, the Garda has gained the upper hand on some of the most dangerous crime groups, and gangland killings have been limited to one or two per year. Despite this, recent seizures of drugs and cash have been unprecedented in value. The most organised drug gangs are enjoying a boom, selling into a prosperous economy where the demand, particularly for cocaine, is insatiable. The experience of the Kinahan cartel demonstrates that ambitious, well-drilled gangs, given the space to grow their operations quickly, become so wealthy and powerful that their leaders become impossible to catch. The Garda must continue to strike against the domestic gangs. And there is also the matter of the Kinahans – Christy snr and his sons, Daniel and Christopher jnr – remaining at large in Dubai.
Sunday World
2 days ago
- Politics
- Sunday World
New Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly announced to replace Drew Harris
Current commissioner is expected to serve his term until September before retiring The Government has appointed Justin Kelly to the post of Garda Commissioner, replacing Drew Harris, who will retire later this year. The role, with a salary of at least €314,000, will see the new commissioner appointed to a five-year term or until the retirement age of 62. He will lead a total workforce of nearly 18,000 people, comprising sworn gardaí, garda staff and reserve gardaí. Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said: 'I am very pleased that the Government has today accepted my recommendation to appoint Justin Kelly, who is currently serving as Deputy Commissioner Security, Strategy and Governance, as Commissioner of An Garda Síochána following an open competition conducted by public jobs. "The role of Garda Commissioner is one of the most challenging and impactful leadership positions in Ireland's public service and the appointment process was suitably rigorous. 'I am satisfied that Justin Kelly is both qualified and particularly well suited to the role of Commissioner given his extensive leadership experience over the last 30 years in some of the most challenging issues facing An Garda Síochána including national security, domestic and sexual violence, and organised crime. "I know Justin is fully committed to providing a high visibility, highly trusted policing service to the public in keeping with the Garda mission of Keeping People Safe.' Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Photo: PA Mr Kelly has 31 years' service in An Garda Síochána. He was employed as a police officer in 1992 before rising through the ranks to detective, detective superintendent, detective chief superintendent and assistant commissioner. Previously, as assistant commissioner of serious and organised crime, he was responsible for leading the national policing response in areas of drugs and organised crime, cyber crime, economic crime, immigration and crimes against vulnerable persons. He was appointed Deputy Commissioner, Security, Strategy and Governance last October. Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly News in 90 Seconds - Tuesday, July 29
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Justin Kelly appointed new Garda commissioner
Justin Kelly will become the new Garda commissioner on September 1, Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan has announced. Mr Kelly will replace Drew Harris, who is to retire after seven years as commissioner. Mr Kelly is currently a deputy commissioner and has been appointed for five years. Mr O'Callaghan said: 'The role of Garda commissioner is one of the most challenging and impactful leadership positions in Ireland's public service and the appointment process was suitably rigorous. 'I am satisfied that Justin Kelly is both qualified and particularly well suited to the role of commissioner, given his extensive leadership experience over the last 30 years in some of the most challenging issues facing An Garda Siochana, including national security, domestic and sexual violence, and organised crime. 'I know Justin is fully committed to providing a high-visibility, highly trusted policing service to the public.' The selection process identified 14 candidates and included two interviews and a presentation. Mr Kelly was selected as the preferred candidate. Mr Harris will continue to lead the force until September, when he will retire after 41 years of service to policing across the island.
The Irish Sun
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Irish Sun
Govt appoint ‘well suited' Justin Kelly to Garda Commissioner role to replace Drew Harris after retirement in weeks
THE Government has appointed a new Garda Commissioner to replace Drew Harris, who will retire later this year. Justin Kelly, who has served over 30 years at all ranks in 2 Justin Kelly will take on the role of Garda Commissioner in September Credit: Brian Lawless/PA Wire 2 Garda Commissioner Drew Harris will remain in the role until his retirement in just a few weeks Credit: Garrett White/PA Wire He was appointed as Deputy Commissioner Security, Strategy and Governance last October and was previously the Assistant Commissioner in charge of Serious and Organised Crime. Minister for Justice He said: "The role of Garda Commissioner is one of the most challenging and impactful leadership positions in Ireland's public service and the appointment process was suitably rigorous. "I am satisfied that Justin Kelly is both qualified and particularly well suited to the role of Commissioner given his extensive leadership experience over the last 30 years in some of the most challenging issues facing An Garda Siochana including national security, domestic and sexual violence, and organised crime. READ MORE IRISH NEWS "I know Justin is fully committed to providing a high visibility, highly trusted policing service to the public in keeping with the Garda mission of Keeping People Safe." Minister O'Callaghan said the the Government is "very grateful" to him for leading An Garda Siochana over the last number of years. He said: "It is a measure of his steady and effective leadership that the organisation maintains very high levels of public trust after what had been a very turbulent period for An Garda Siochana prior to his appointment. MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN 'In creating a national network of Divisional Protective Services Units, he transformed the quality of Garda investigations into domestic and sexual crimes. "He has determinedly focused on tracking down and prosecuting those involved in organised crime, including building international partnerships to seek them out, leading to a very substantial measurable drop in gun-related deaths in Ireland, as well as significant increases in seizure of drugs and cash. "His leadership of An Garda Siochana throughout the Covid pandemic was exemplary and the country owes him a debt of gratitude for all his work.' Tanaiste 'PROUD DAY' He said: "This is a proud day for the new Commissioner and his family and I want to wish him every success in his new position, leading the men and women of An Garda Siochana who carry out such an important role in our society every single day right across the country." The Fine Gael leader added: "I look forward to working closely with him in the years ahead on building stronger, safer communities by strengthening An Garda Siochana, expanding resources, and modernising support to tackle crime. "As a Government we are committed to funding the recruitment of thousands more gardai as well as protecting and investing in the force. "Today's appointment will take effect upon the retirement of the current Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on September 1. "I want to take this opportunity to extend my thanks and appreciation to the outgoing Commissioner who led An Garda Siochana through a period of significant reform which has seen the implementation of a new Operating Model along with the repeal and replacement of the Garda Siochana Act." The Garda Commissioner role is understood to have a salary of at least €314,000.
