[2] The current Garda Commissioner is Drew Harris, former Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI, who took office on 3 September 2018.
[1] The Garda Síochána will succeed not by force of arms or numbers, but on their moral authority as servants of the people.
Michael Staines became the first Garda Commissioner in February 1922, when the force was founded as the Civic Guard.
[4] Traditionally, the Commissioner is the highest-ranking police officer in the state, however the selection process for the position is now open to candidates from outside the force, outside a law enforcement agency and outside of Ireland.
[5] Nóirín O'Sullivan made history in becoming the first woman to lead the force when she was appointed in November 2014, having already served as the acting Garda Commissioner since March 2014.