The Government is expected to appoint Mr Justice Kevin Haugh as chairman of the independent Garda Ombudsman Commission, which will have the power to investigate cases of alleged misconduct within the force for the first time, writes Carl O'Brien, Social Affairs Correspondent.
It is understood Judge Haugh has accepted the offer of the post from Minister for Justice Michael McDowell. Plans for his appointment are expected to be brought before Cabinet in the coming weeks.
Two other individuals have also been approached and will complete the three-member commission.
The commission will replace the Garda Complaints Board, which was widely seen as ineffective in the face of growing public concern over discipline and misconduct within the force.
The ombudsman commission will have the power to conduct its own investigations, to arrest members of the force and seize documents from Garda stations
However, it will have to apply to the Department of Justice for permission to view documents which are deemed to relate to the security of the State.
The manner in which appointments to the ombudsman commission are being made are likely to draw criticism from civil liberties groups and opposition parties, which called for the positions to be public advertised and selected by an independent advisory body.
Mr Justice Haugh, a Circuit Court judge for 10 years, was appointed to the High Court only this week by the Government.
He was educated at University College Dublin and the King's Inns, Dublin. Having qualified as a barrister in 1966, he was involved in a number of high-profile criminal actions, as both prosecution and defence.
After his appointment as a judge, he went on to serve as a member of the seven-member administrative tribunal of the UN, which deals with issues within the organisation such as contracts of employment and staffing issues.
Legislation providing for the establishment of the Garda Ombudsman Commission was recently enacted.
Commencement orders for aspects of the Garda Act, 2005, are due to made by the Minister for Justice shortly.
The Government's decision to opt for a three-member Garda Ombudsman Commission was criticised by some opposition parties, which said the measure would dilute its effectiveness.
Mr McDowell, however, argued that a three-member commission was in line with international norms.