Helen McEntee

Ms McPhillips will succeed outgoing secretary general Aidan O’Driscoll, who is retiring after a 43-year career, for a seven-year term.

She was previously deputy secretary general in the Department and head of the criminal justice pillar created under recent departmental reforms.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said: “I’m delighted that Government has today appointed Oonagh McPhillips as secretary general of the Department of Justice and Equality. Oonagh has dedicated her career to the work of the Department and is uniquely placed to deliver our future reforms.

“As deputy secretary general, Oonagh played an integral role in setting a clear vision for the criminal justice sector and has overseen the Department’s implementation of the radical change set out in the 2018 report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland.

“I look forward to working closely with Oonagh as we deliver on our ambitious Programme for Government. I wish her luck in her new role.”

Ms McEntee added: “I want to pay tribute to Aidan’s exemplary leadership and wish him well in his retirement. He led the Department of Justice and Equality through a period of huge change and reform and I would like to thank him for his stewardship.”