Another news Ireland Blog by Donie

PSNI officers can now apply for senior officer Garda jobs in Ireland

          

The Irish government has introduced new regulations which will allow PSNI officers at the rank of inspector or above to compete for appointments to senior ranks within the Garda Siochana.

Similar arrangements are in place within the PSNI.

The new regulations do not apply to the posts of Garda commissioner or deputy commissioner, which are at discretion of the Irish government.

Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter said the regulations were part of a commitment in the intergovernmental agreement on police co-operation.

“That agreement, which has been progressively implemented, provided that members of the PSNI or the Garda should be able to apply for positions at ranks above inspector level in the other police force.”

The regulations allow members of the PSNI at the rank of inspector or above to compete for appointment in the same competition as similar ranks in the Garda, to the ranks of superintendent, chief superintendent or assistant commissioner in the Irish police.

“The agreement also provided for cooperation between the two police forces at the level of exchanges without police powers and secondment with police powers,” Mr Shatter said.

“The experience gained by officers from both sides continues to enhance the level of cooperation and exchange of information between both forces.

“These new regulations mark a truly historic further step in relations between the two forces, to the benefit of policing on this island.”

The new regulations come into force immediately.

A Donegal man is killed as his crane hits electricity wires in Dunlewey

  

A 42-year-old crane driver named locally as Eamonn Bonnerwas killed in a tragic accident in Co Donegal yesterday when his machine touched overhead wires near Dunlewey., 

Mr Bonner, who was married with two young daughters, was working on a local water scheme at Meenaboll when the tragedy happened just before 10am.

The area has been sealed off as a full investigation has been launched into exactly how the man died.

Mr Bonner, from Molley Road, Doochary, was a very experienced construction worker.

He had worked on construction sites in London during the boom times before returning to Donegal to work with local company Kilmac Construction.

A garda spokesman said: “It looks like a tragic accident at this stage.”