The Policing Authority is an independent body set up to oversee the performance of An Garda Síochána. It was established on January 1st under the Garda Síochána (Policing Authority and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2015.
With offices on North King Street in Dublin, it has eight members and a chairwoman, former head of Revenue Josephine Feehily.
The members are Bob Collins, former RTÉ director general, DCU law lecturer Dr Vicky Conway, chief executive of Chartered Accountants Ireland Patrick Costello, former PSNI deputy chief constable Judith Gillespie, management consultant Valerie Judge, Maureen Lynott, former chair of the taskforce to establish the Child & Family Agency, and Dr Moling Ryan, director of human resources and change management in the Courts Service. Authority members are appointed for three or four years, but may be reappointed for a further term, up to eight years.
The authority also has responsibility for nominating people for the roles of Garda commissioner and deputy garda commissioner, and for appointing to ranks including Garda superintendent, chief superintendent and assistant commissioner, and senior Garda civilian staff. It will have a role in determining Garda priorities, approving the three-year Garda strategy and the annual Garda policing plan. It is also charged with establishing a Garda code of ethics, and promoting and supporting the improvement of policing.
Not to be confused with the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission or the Garda Síochána Inspectorate, the authority does not have a role in inspection or in complaints against individual gardaí.
