Security for Former Garda Commissioner’s Home Cost Over €212,000

Security measures for the rental home of former Garda Commissioner Drew Harris in Phoenix Park amounted to €212,000 during his tenure. The Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, disclosed that this figure includes an annual monitoring fee of €2,500. An Garda Síochána covered the monthly rent of €1,800 for the property, while Harris waived a “considerable financial gain” from his pension in relation to this arrangement.

O’Callaghan explained that Drew Harris had the option to either join the single public service pension scheme or receive a pension contribution of 18.4 percent of his salary to a scheme of his choice. Harris chose the latter, resulting in a significant financial benefit that he ultimately did not pursue.

The financial arrangements surrounding Harris’s accommodation have come under scrutiny, particularly following allegations of a “sweetheart” deal that could impact public funds. These concerns were raised during a session of the Public Accounts Committee last month, where it was revealed that the €1,800 monthly rent fluctuated during Harris’s time as commissioner, which spanned from 2018 to 2025.

O’Callaghan issued an apology to Labour justice spokesperson Alan Kelly for previously providing an “incomplete” response to questions about Harris’s remuneration package. He acknowledged that the earlier answers were “very restrictive” and only compared the salaries of the current and former commissioners without addressing accommodation specifics.

Kelly expressed frustration about the lack of clarity from the Department of Justice, stating, “This isn’t the first time that I’ve had questions which haven’t been answered.” He pressed for assurances that future responses would be accurate and comprehensive. In response, O’Callaghan affirmed that he had instructed his officials to adopt a broader interpretation in answering parliamentary questions to avoid any potential misunderstandings.

The Labour spokesperson also questioned why details about Harris’s accommodation were not disclosed sooner, suggesting that other candidates may have been unaware of the arrangements, raising concerns about the fairness of the selection process. O’Callaghan rejected claims of concealment, referencing a December 2017 article in The Irish Times that indicated the government might cover accommodation costs and educational fees for dependents if an international candidate were selected for the position of Garda Commissioner.

He emphasized that it was clear from the outset that if the appointment were made from outside Ireland, accommodation costs would need to be considered. This statement aims to clarify the circumstances surrounding the financial arrangements linked to the former commissioner’s residency and address concerns regarding transparency in public service appointments.