Press release
Cabinet approves nomination for Chairperson of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
Published on
Last updated on
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee TD, has today received the approval of the government for the nomination of Judge Rory MacCabe as a member of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission (GSOC) and as its next Chairperson. The nomination follows a selection process which sought expressions of interest from serving or retired judges to fill the role of Chairperson upon the completion of the term of office of the current Chairperson.
The Garda Síochána Act 2005 provides that the GSOC chairperson and commissioners are appointed by the President on the nomination of the government, following resolutions in the Dáil and Seanad. The Hon. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, a High Court judge, is GSOC’s current Chairperson; her term of office is due to end on 11 December 2021. She will now return to the High Court.
Minister McEntee said:
"The nomination of Judge Rory MacCabe follows an assessment process conducted by a selection committee established by the Chief Justice to identify suitable candidates to be appointed to the position of Chairperson of GSOC. I am delighted to be able to nominate a person of Judge MacCabe’s experience and calibre to this important body. In light of the significance of the role of the Chair of GSOC and the recent precedent, I have also received the approval of the government to nominate Judge MacCabe to the High Court.
"I will now arrange for the necessary resolutions to be moved in the Oireachtas recommending his appointment as Chair of GSOC by the President.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the outgoing Chairperson, the Hon Ms. Justice Mary Ellen Ring. Over the last six years, Ms Justice Ring has served with distinction as Chair, providing strong and effective leadership to the organisation and has ensured that its reputation as an independent, impartial investigator of complaints against members of An Garda Síochána, has been enhanced."
Judge Rory MacCabe was called to the Bar in 1984 and admitted to the Inner Bar in 1999. He was appointed to the Circuit Court in 2007. Prior to joining the Bar he was a Civil Servant.
The Hon Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring is GSOC’s current Chairperson. She was a judge of the circuit court when nominated to be GSOC chair by the government in June 2015.
Judge Ring was appointed to the High Court in July 2015 following which she was appointed as GSOC Chairperson by the President in August 2015. Her term of appointment will expire on 11 December 2021.
As this is currently her second term, she is ineligible for reappointment and will now return to judicial duties.
GSOC is a statutory, independent body established in accordance with the provisions of Part 3 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005, as amended. It deals with complaints concerning alleged Garda misconduct. GSOC also conducts investigations into circumstances where it appears that the conduct of a Garda, or Gardaí, may have resulted in death or serious harm to a person. It may also investigate matters in relation to Garda conduct, when it is in the public interest, even if a complaint has not been received.
Section 65 of the Act provides that the members are appointed by the President on (a) the nomination of the government, and (b) the passage of resolutions by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann recommending their appointment. One of the members shall be appointed as chairperson and at least one of the members must be a woman and at least one of them must be a man. The roles are full-time.
The Ombudsman Commission is chaired at present by The Hon. Ms Justice Mary Ellen Ring, a High Court judge. Judge Ring was re-appointed to the Ombudsman Commission for a five year term on 12 December 2016, which is due to end in the coming days. The other two members of the Commission are Emily Logan and Hugh Hume, both appointed earlier this year.