The Tánaiste and Minister for Justice has said she believes the Commission of the Future of Policing in Ireland will help restore confidence in An Garda Síochána.
Frances Fitzgerald said that for the first time every aspect of An Garda Síochána will be examined.
Speaking on RTE’s Six One, she said that given the issues that have arisen, it is the right time to do it.
Minister Fitzgerald repeated that the Government has confidence in Garda Commissioner Nóirín O’Sullivan and said due and fair process should be adhered to. #
"It's really important that we restore public confidence. I believe that having this commission will help restore that public confidence.
"It's very exciting, I believe, and the right time to do it.
"Over the last period, we have seen issues emerging. They are endemic in relation to culture, ethos, management - it's the right time to look at them."
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The commission is to carry out a fundamental review of the role, structures, leadership, management, ethos and culture of An Garda Síochána, as well as examining existing consultative and oversight arrangements
It is to complete its work by September of next year, but may in the meantime, bring forward immediate proposals and recommendations that it considers should be implemented.
Chaired by current Seattle Police Chief Kathleen O'Toole, the 12 members include a former Garda Ombudsman, a current Policing Authority member and a former secretary general of the Department of Justice.
The Commission will examine structures and management arrangements required for the most effective delivery of policing; the composition, recruitment and training of gardaí; the culture and ethos of the police service, and the legislative framework for policing in the modern age.
It will examine if the diversity of the Garda reflects Irish society as well as the optimal composition between gardaí and civilian personnel.
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It will also examine if the Garda's information systems are appropriate and look at the behaviour and values of gardaí in relation to accountability, a willingness to change and in particular in relation to crime victims.
The Garda Representative Association has strongly criticised the composition of the commission.
The association, which represents over 10,000 rank and file gardaí highlighted the fact that there was no serving or former member of An Garda Síochána appointed to the commission.
GRA President Ciaran O'Neill said the views of the men and women who have daily experience of policing have been ignored.
Mr O’Neill said the commission is weighted towards oversight mechanisms for the behaviour of gardaí and described it as a missed opportunity.
He said gardaí around the country will be "simply mystified" as to why the future is being decided without a practical input from either management or the staff associations.
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, he said "not one of those people who are on that Commission and no disrespect to any of them, but not one of them have ever walked the beat as a policeman in Ireland previously.
"They are not aware of the roles and the functions and the job that a policeman has to do in Ireland.
"What we are saying is that the people who represent the members who are on the front line should be represented on that commission."
The other members of the commission approved by Cabinet today include Dr Antonio Oftelie, who conducts research and teaches in Harvard.
The other members are: Tonita Murray, an international police development consultant with over 40 years as a civilian in government ministries directing the police and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Peter Fahya former Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police and Cheshire Police while Dr Eddie Molloy is an independent management consultant.
Noeline Blackwell, a human rights lawyer who is Chief Executive of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre. She was formerly the Director General of the Free Legal Advice Centres.
Professor Donncha O'Connell, who is Professor of Law at the School of Law, NUI
Dr Vicky Conway, a member of the Policing Authority and a Lecturer in Law at Dublin City University.
She previously held positions at University of Kent, Queen's University Belfast, the University of Limerick and the University of Leeds.
Conor Brady, a former editor of the Irish Times and Sunday Tribune and was a member of the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission from 2005 to 2011.
Tim Dalton, retired secretary general of the Department of Justice and Equality.
Helen Ryan, who is a board member of Enterprise Ireland and former chief executive officer of Creganna-Tactx Medical, which is a global supplier to the medical devices industry.
Johnny Connolly, of the University of Limerick, is the final commission member.
McGrath says firing O'Sullivan would be priority for Fianna Fáil
Fianna Fáil finance spokesperson Michael McGrath has said one of the party's first acts if in government would be to remove Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan.
The Cork TD said garda controversies have been destabilising for the Government.
Mr McGrath said there would be no need for new talks with any new leader of Fine Gael if the party did not change the Programme for Government.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny last week told the Fine Gael parliamentary party that he would address the issue of his leadership at the parliamentary party meeting tomorrow night.
Minister for Communications Denis Naughten, meanwhile, has said he expects that more revelations will come out about garda controversies, and that is why he had argued very strongly for a commission on the future of policing, which was discussed at Cabinet today.
He said he would be expressing to Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald the need for the recommendations to be practical and implementable and that actions take place on foot of the publication of the report.
Asked if the the issue of the Fine Gael leadership was destabilising for Government, the independent minister said he was very focused on the work in front of him.
He said he was liaising with other Government ministers on various issues.
He said it would be an issue in the back of their minds, but he said there is a determination to drive ahead with the Programme for Government and he intends that his colleagues will continue to do that.
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy earlier said the question over the Fine Gael leadership is detracting from the work of Government and the Dáil.
She added that the Garda Commissioner's position is no longer tenable.
