Dick Roche (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)

Yes. A number of countries have such a process, although we do not. We are all deeply involved, including the EU, in the general issue of the violence that flows from the sense that flawed elections are a denial of democracy because there is no point in going with a process that is a facade for fraud. I get the impression from material I have read that the INEC is making real efforts.

With regard to international vote observers, the process is that they are invited by the Nigerian Government and they make independent assessments. I hope, as the Deputy has said, the election will go ahead, be free and fair and give the people the opportunity to choose.

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