Martin to become first Taoiseach to attend PSNI ceremony

Updated / Friday, 6 Nov 2026 10:00

Micheál Martin will today become the first Taoiseach to attend a passing out ceremony for new Police Service of Northern Ireland student officers, a quarter of a century after the new police service was formed.

The 'attestation ceremony' for almost 40 new officers will also be attended by PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Bryant.

This week marks the 25th anniversary of the PSNI replacing the RUC, as part of sweeping reforms recommended by an independent commission established as part of the Good Friday Agreement.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, the Taoiseach said: "I look forward to extending my congratulations to all the new constables being conferred at today's attestation ceremony. This is a proud day for them and their families, and I wish the new officers every success in their policing careers.

"I am also pleased to be in Belfast for today’s ceremony as we mark 25 years since the establishment of the PSNI and the significant achievements made since the Patten Commission.

"The creation of the PSNI was a key part of delivering the Good Friday Agreement and the peace that it made possible.

"The Government of Ireland is committed to building on the achievements of that peace, deepening the cooperation across our jurisdictions, and harnessing the full potential of the Good Friday Agreement."

The new police service faced huge challenges when it was formed in November 2001.

Sinn Féin initially did not support it and unionists were angered at the disbandment of the RUC and at a 50:50 recruitment rule, which stipulated that half of all new recruits to the PSNI had to be Catholic.

But republicans eventually backed the new service and Sinn Féin members took up seats on the Policing Board, which holds the PSNI to account.

The 50:50 rule, which ended in 2011, also bore fruit. While the proportion of Catholics in the RUC at its height reached around 8%, the current figure is just over 30%.

The proportion of Catholic officers has been the same for more than a decade, which has prompted calls from some nationalist politicians for the 50:50 rule to be re-introduced in an attempt to increase it.

The PSNI Chief Constable yesterday criticised politicians for failing to collectively and actively encourage young people to apply to join.

Mr Boutcher said that lack of active support was the single biggest barrier to the service being truly representative of society in Northern Ireland.