Oonagh Buckley (pictured) has been appointed to the new deputy secretary post for the Department of Justice and Equality.

She joins secretary general Aidan O’Driscoll and deputy secretary (Home Affairs) Oonagh McPhillips in leading the forthcoming Justice restructuring.

Formerly director general of the Workplace Relations Committee (WRC) Oonagh Buckley is a qualified barrister.

Minister Charlie Flanagan, meanwhile, welcomed the second report of the Effectiveness and Renewal Group (ERG) for the Department of Justice and Equality.  

The report finds “good progress” has been made since its last report in June, including senior appointments, a new change communication strategy and the issuing of a tender to procure external consultants to assist in the structural transformation.

The ERG report also rows in behind the Commission on the Future of Policing in its call for a statutory board to strengthen the internal governance and management of the Gardaí. 

Front counter services offered by the department will be further scrutinised by the ERG.

And departmental geography will be consolidated to build “consistency and cohesiveness” across the department.

Foundations for change

Minister Flanagan said:“This report clearly shows that the primary foundations for change are now in place in the Department of Justice and Equality.

“I would again like to thank the Effectiveness and Renewal Group for their continued dedication.  The Department will now move forward with the next phase of the radical restructuring of one of the great institutions of our State.”