The biggest round of promotions to the ranks of senior management in the Garda has been revealed.
Forty five officers were informed today by registered post they had secured promotion to the rank of chief superintendent or superintendent.
It is the first time in two years that lists of successful applicants for vacancies at this level have been drawn up and the largest group promoted for more than five years.
Of the 45 officers being promoted, seven are already working at superintendent rank and are being promoted to chief superintendent. And 38 are currently working as inspectors but are now being promoted to superintendent.
Those being promoted to chief superintendent are: Det Supt Dominic Hayes, currently based in Waterford; Supt Sean Ward, currently based at Store St station in Dublin's north inner city; Supt Pat Diskin, who is currently based in Castlebar, Co Mayo; Supt Lorraine Wheatley, who has been based in Donnybrook, south Dublin; Supt Karl Heller, a child protection expert who has been working in community relations; Supt Pat Lordan who has been based in Mullingar; and Supt Barry McPolin, who has been working in Anglesea St in Cork City.
They have emerged from a competition process run under code of the Commission for Public Service Appointments.
The promotion process has been changed in recent years, with the panel that interviews and selects the successful candidates made up of two civilians, appointed by the Public Appointments Service, and one Garda member. The panel is chaired by one of the civilians.
After list of successful candidates are chosen by the panel, they are presented to the office of the garda commissioner for forwarding to the Cabinet, which must approve the appointments.
Those on the lists for promotions to both ranks will soon learn what vacancies they will fill, with more senior posts than ever vacant because of the Garda recruitment and promotions moratorium, which has been relaxed very infrequently since it began when the economy crashed.
Retirements on age grounds have also seen many senior officers move on in recent years.
For those on the lists for promotion, a queuing system operates.
Some of those promoted who were regarded as the top candidates by the interview and selection panel are first on the list to be promoted. Everyone on the list must realise their promotions within one year by being placed into a vacancy as the lists expire after 12 months.
