Garda Commissioner Drew Harris has agreed to a contract extension that will see him remain at the helm of the Garda force for an additional three months.
The Irish Times has learned the contract extension was proposed by Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan and approved at the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday.
Mr Harris will now remain in his post until September 1st, having previously been due to retire in June.
The extension, which was not flagged in advance, will expire at the end of August. Mr Harris has agreed to the short extension in a bid to create more time for the recruitment process to find is successor.
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Mr Harris, a former senior PSNI officer, was appointed commissioner in 2018 on a five-year term. He accepted a two-year extension in 2023, which did not require him to go through the formality of applying to remain serving beyond the age of 60 years.
Speaking after his extension was confirmed, Mr Harrs said he looks forward to continuing to lead the Garda in the months ahead.
“I very much welcome the opportunity provided by the Government to continue to have the honour and privilege of serving the people of Ireland and working with the highly dedicated and professional Garda personnel as Garda Commissioner until September 1st,” he said.
In a statement on Tuesday evening, Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan confirmed approval in principle of the extension while a successor is identified and appointed. He said formal confirmation will follow a consultation with the newly-established Garda Board and Policing and Community Safety Authority.
The Minister said he is “very pleased” Mr Harris will “continue to offer his leadership and ensure a smooth process of transition to his successor who will be selected over the coming months”.
Last year The Irish Times revealed he had been sounded out about the possibility of another contract extension. Although the Department of Justice denied at the time it had made the approach, Garda sources confirmed Mr Harris’s views had been canvassed about the possibility of staying on and he said at the time he preferred to retire.
However, he has now agreed to a short extension, which will allow for additional time to run a recruitment competition to find a successor.
Filling senior positions in the Garda force has become a protracted process in recent years as many senior officers have proven reluctant to apply for promotion for the most senior positions due to the large pension-related tax liabilities they will face.
