THE OUTGOING CHAIR of the Revenue Commissioners Josephine Feehily has been picked to lead Ireland’s new policing authority, but the method in which she appointed has come under fire.
Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald announced yesterday that Feehily would “bring a wealth of experience and competencies” to the job. While the appointment of Feehily has been welcomed, the process used has come in for criticism from the Irish Council for Civil Liberties (ICCL).
Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, Mark Kelly of ICCL said that the process was “not sufficient”.
“The Minister seems to think that by using the process she used and then producing someone of undoubted integrity is sufficient, but it’s not.”
Kelly said the fact that the legislation which establishes the authority allows for a different appointment process for the chair of the board and regular members was “completely different”.
“This is exclusively a ministerial recommendation and a government appointment and it is not the independence in leadership which we were promised.
“Leadership is absolutely crucial, as is the perception of independence for this authority.”
Kelly said that the Public Appointment Service should have oversight of all appointments.
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