Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan has rejected any criticism of incoming Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, and said much of the negativity is politically motivated.
Speaking on RTÉ's This Week, he said he does not think there is a conflict between Mr Harris being bound to the UK Official Secrets Act and to the Irish Official Secrets Act.
He said he thinks it is an attempt to damage the new commissioner even before he starts, and described it as "very unfair".
He said Mr Harris will be a member of An Garda Síochána from tomorrow morning, and will be subject to the full range of legal regulations as any other garda member would be.
The Minister said he is satisfied with the vetting process of the incoming commissioner, and that he was security vetted by An Garda Síochána as requested by his department.
"That was done before the Independent Policing Authority nominated him for appointment by government and before I brought that recommendation to my government colleagues," he said.
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Mr Flanagan said if you look back at Mr Harris's career, he has played an important role.
"He is noted very much for impartial policing and to service and community and he defended the democracy on the rule of law all of his professional life. His father was brutally murdered by enemies of democracy," the minister said.
"The greatest threat to the security of this State comes from dissident republicans, and I believe Drew Harris has played an important role in ensuring that there has been a positive role between the PSNI and the Garda Síochána."
He thinks this relationship could be strengthened further with Mr Harris as Garda Commissioner.
Mr Flanagan said he has heard people express concern that Mr Harris worked closely with British security services while in the PSNI. But he said this is not Ireland against the PSNI or Ireland concerned about a foreign police force.
"Drew Harris as Garda Commissioner, working with the PSNI, and indeed east west in terms of the UK/Ireland relationship against the continued threat coming from dissident republicans and the enemy of rule of law," the minister said.
