THE JUSTICE MINISTER Alan Shatter has announced that the Government has approved a two year extension of the term of office of the Garda Commissioner, Martin Callinan.
The extension will move Commissioner Callinan’s retirement from August 2013 to August 2015.
Making the announcement, the Minister said that Callinan had been Commissioner for just under two years and had overseen “radical and extensive change” to An Garda Síochána. “A new Garda roster is currently being piloted, the Garda District and station networks are being reformed and modernised, and a highly effective policing service is being maintained at a time of significant resource constraint, ” Shatter said.
“At a time of such significant organisational reform, I believe that it is desirable that there should be continuity in Garda leadership, and I am delighted that Martin has agreed to this extension,” he added.
Shatter said that since Callinan’s appointment, crime statistics recorded by the Central Statistics Office have shown reductions in the great majority of crime groups.
He also noted that specific initiatives have been launched to deal with particular issues of concern:
Under Operation Fiacla, launched earlier this year by the Commissioner to deal with burglaries, about 2,500 people have been arrested and 1,400 people charged. Week in week out, the activities of gangs have been tackled and this has been reflected in very substantial drugs seizures.
The activities of criminal terrorist groups continue to be addressed robustly and cooperation between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland has never been better.
Shatter went on to express his appreciation for the “vital work” that the Garda Síochána, despite all the pressures on resources, continue to do on behalf of the public in the fight against crime – saying that their contribution to is deeply valued by me and the Government.”
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