The selection competition for identifying and recommending to the Government a person for appointment as Garda Commissioner has been delayed as a result of the Government's failure to enact the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act. This is a crucially important position in our society and particularly in our policing services. Will the Minister give an assurance to the Dáil that a new Garda Commissioner will be in place by 1 September of this year when the current Commissioner's contract ends?

I thank the Deputy for his very important question but I think he will agree with me it fades into insignificance when we consider the terrible events of last weekend and how they affected An Garda Síochána. Like the Deputy no doubt, I want to start these questions by extending my condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Garda Kevin Flatley who gave his life in the line of duty.

On that point and in answer to the Deputy's question, it is fair to say that a Commissioner, no matter who he or she is, can only be as good as the rank and file gardaí who serve under them. Nonetheless the Deputy's question is a valid and an important one. Section 26 of the new Act, that sets out the procedure for the appointment of a Garda Commissioner.

As the Deputy has indicated, the Commissioner, Mr. Harris, is retiring on 1 September. I have already started the process for the appointment of the new Garda Commissioner. I consulted with the relevant statutory bodies in advance of the post being advertised last Friday. As the Deputy will be aware, the closing date for applications is 29 May. After that, there will be interviews. I believe I will be in a position in mid-July to go to the Government with a proposal on the name of a person who will be appointed by the Government as Garda Commissioner. If that is achieved in July, as I expect it to be achieved, it will mean that the new Commissioner will commence his or her post from 1 September.

To answer the Deputy's question directly, we will be in a position to have a new Commissioner starting as leader of the force on 1 September next. It is an extremely important position. I know we are going to have many excellent candidates from within and without the force putting forward their names for the competition.

I thank the Minister. I join with him in expressing our condolences to the family, friends and Garda colleagues of Garda Kevin Flatley. The outpouring of grief we have seen from his local community points to the fact that Garda Flatley represented all that is good about An Garda Síochána and its membership.

Regarding the new Garda Commissioner, I agree with the Minister that the Commissioner is only as strong as his or her members. Clearly, there has been somewhat of a breakdown in trust - that is putting it as diplomatically as I can - between many Garda members and higher echelons of management. That is why the appointment of a new Commissioner must mark a new beginning and a new phase in the operational issues of An Garda Síochána that we know are there and must be addressed.

Therefore, is the Minister satisfied that there is now a prospect of somebody with no policing experience whatsoever taking over the role of Garda Commissioner? Many people are quite surprised that that is even an option. I would like the Minister to comment on that.

No, a person with no policing experience will not be appointed, or recommended by me rather, for the position of Garda Commissioner. It is also important to emphasise that we have a lot of excellent candidates within An Garda Síochána who should be putting their names forward for the position of Garda Commissioner. As it such a prestigious job at such a well-resourced and high-reputation entity within the world, I have no doubt that people from outside this country will be putting their names forward.

I want to see an active and strong competition. It is a really important role. We need an inspirational leader and somebody who recognises the important role that An Garda Síochána plays within our society. I know there were issues of some concern in respect of the standard fund threshold to persons who are within An Garda Síochána, but when you look at the package that is available, I am fairly satisfied and have a strong expectation that the full recommendations of Dr. Donal de Buitléir will be implemented by Government in due course.

That is important, and it is regrettable that we have a situation where senior gardaí are saying - if not on the record, then letting it be known - that the position is not tenable for them. Those issues must be addressed.

What the public at large wants to see is an improvement in Garda visibility in their communities. We need a clear plan for putting more gardaí, particularly community gardaí, on our streets in our communities. The Minister will know that, in March, the current Commissioner, Mr. Drew Harris, said it was simply not possible to achieve the Government's goal of having 1,000 new members attested in 2025. He said the maximum would be 800. I do not know if the Minister can give us an estimated total for this year yet, but what we do know is that Garda numbers have declined in relative terms over the past number of years, and communities have paid a price for that in terms of Garda visibility. Will the Minister ensure that when the new Garda Commissioner is in place, he or she will be provided with the resources and policy changes necessary to ensure we have the number of gardaí that are required so that the Commissioner's term can be a success?

I agree with the Deputy's position, and that of Sinn Féin, that the standard fund threshold part of the tax system needs to be changed. It is my strong expectation that that will happen.

In respect of the numbers within An Garda Síochána, as the Deputy will know from the programme for Government, we have given a commitment that we will seek to get the numbers in An Garda Síochána up by 5,000 over the course of the Government term. I have said it before; it is a challenging issue to try to get Garda numbers up but all I can do - and I would ask the Deputy and other Members of the House to do it as well - is to emphasise that, notwithstanding the danger associated with being a member of An Garda Síochána, which we tragically saw last weekend, it is a job that is worth doing. There are very many fine members of An Garda Síochána who you speak to, and they will tell you they derive great satisfaction from their jobs.

We need to get the numbers up. More importantly, we need to get the numbers we have out on the streets. We are beginning to see that. We are in a great position in Ireland where people want to see members of An Garda Síochána on the streets in their communities, and that is what I am committed to doing.