Part time Detective Inspector for ODCE not good enough

Following questions to the Taoiseach in the Dáil it was confirmed to Labour Party Leader Brendan Howlin that the vacancy in a position of Garda Detective Inspector in the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement is now being filled on a part time basis. The vacancy in the most senior Garda position in the ODCE first arose in September 2016, and it has yet to be filled.

Deputy Howlin said:

“Questioning the Taoiseach in the Dáil on Tuesday he confirmed to me that the duties and role of the position of Garda Detective Inspector in the ODCE is now undertaken by another detective inspector in addition to other duties.

“This senior Garda position in the ODCE was first created in 1999 in the ODCE following a Government decision and it is a central part of our efforts to tackle white collar crime and corruption.

“It is simply not good enough that such a critical police post in tackling white collar crime is now being filled on a part time basis and contrasts sharply with the Government’s spin on the proposed 28 measures it announced last week.

“The vacancy first arose in September 2016, and despite efforts by the Director of the ODCE to have the position filled quickly, it was still vacant in May when it came to light following the collapse of the Anglo trial.

“It is shocking that neither An Garda Síochána or the Government Departments of Justice, and Enterprise took this senior vacancy seriously to ensure it was filled quickly.

“Despite the fanfare of the Government’s announcements on tackling white collar crime in the last week, the clear failure to fill this position on a full time basis is unacceptable.

“The Taoiseach said yesterday the position would be filled as soon as possible, but six months on from when this was first flagged publicly, it is past time that the Government took action.

ENDS

Transcript from Taoiseach’s Questions – Tuesday 7th November available here:

http://oireachtasdebates.oireachtas.ie/Debates%20Authoring/DebatesWebPack.nsf/takes/dail2017110700019#N11