The succession contest at the top of An Garda Síochána has been turned on its head following a decision by Government to extend by two years the term of office of deputy commissioner Fachtna Murphy.
The Irish Times has learned the Government has also approved the creation of a third deputy commissioner's post over the summer months.
There are two deputy commissioners at the moment: Mr Murphy, who is in charge of operations, and Peter Fitzgerald, who is in charge of strategic and resource management.
The new changes mean that when Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy retires in November of next year, the contest to take over will be between Mr Murphy, Mr Fitzgerald and whoever is appointed to the newly created third deputy commissioner post.
This has been created to "drive change" within the Garda following recommendations by the Morris tribunal in its reports to date.
Mr Murphy will now carry on until June 2009. If he had retired in June 2007, when he will be 60, one of the current 10 assistant commissioners would have been appointed to his job. This person would then have been in direct competition with Mr Fitzgerald for the Garda Commissioner's job when Mr Conroy retires.
However, news that Mr Murphy is staying on, coupled with the creation of a third post at deputy commissioner level, means the contest has been radically altered. The changes were approved by Cabinet yesterday following a proposal by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell.
Mr Murphy will now be favourite to take over from Mr Conroy. In his current role in charge of operations, each of the regional assistant commissioners and assistant commissioners crime and security and national support services - including the Criminal Assets Bureau, Garda National Drugs Unit, National Bureau of Criminal Investigation and Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation - report directly to him.
Mr McDowell proposed the changes because Mr Conroy, Mr Murphy and Mr Fitzgerald were all due to retire within 12 months of each other, starting in June 2007. Mr Conroy and Mr Fitzgerald will be aged 65 when they retire
Political sources said the Minister was mindful of concerns expressed by a group chaired by Senator Maurice Hayes which advised on the implementation of the Garda Síochána Act.
It said the retirement of senior officers in quick succession was bad for the force.
