LAST UPDATE | 15 Feb 2022

DREW HARRIS HAS said he is “delighted” to have had his term as commissioner extended by two years until 2025.

Ministers granted the two year extension at a meeting this morning following a proposal from the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee.

The Commissioner’s original five year term had been due to expire on 2 September next year. The extension to 2025 means he will remain in the role until he reaches the current statutory retirement age of 60.  

Harris became the first person to be appointed Commissioner from outside the force when he took up the role in September 2018.

He previously served as Deputy Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

In a statement, Harris said: “It is a great privilege and honour to be Garda Commissioner.

“During the last four years, the organisation has made great progress in becoming an efficient and effective human-rights focused policing and security service.
 
“In particular, the work by Garda personnel during the Covid-19 pandemic was a real demonstration of the organisation’s commitment to keeping people safe through our ethos of policing by consent and in partnership with communities.
 
“However, while we have made many significant changes to the organisation in recent years, the pandemic also meant that we had to put on hold some of the elements of our reform programme that we had planned to introduce.”

Minister McEntee said Commissioner Harris is held in high esteem by the public and is widely acknowledged as having done an exemplary job since his appointment.

“As well as his role in leading our national policing and security service, the Commissioner has introduced very significant reforms and driven the ongoing programme of reform in An Garda Síochána,” Minister McEntee said.

“The organisation is currently entering a critical phase with the rollout of the new operating model, and the forthcoming passage and implementation of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill. 

“The extension of the Commissioner’s term of office will bring a welcome clarity and continuity of leadership to An Garda Síochána through the vital period ahead. I look forward to continuing to work with the Commissioner over the coming years,” McEntee added.

Policing Authority chairman Bob Collins also welcomed the decision.

“We particularly welcome the fact that the decision is made now so that any potential disruption arising from the anticipation of a recruitment process beginning in early autumn is avoided,” Collins said.

“Commissioner Harris has made a strikingly significant impact on the Garda Síochána in the period since his appointment.

“He has both a clear understanding of the challenges that face the organisation in providing a high quality policing service to a changing Ireland and a clear vision of what he wishes to achieve for, and with, the Garda Síochána in the years ahead.”

Contains reporting by Stephen McDermott and Garreth MacNamee