Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 94: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the assistance he will provide or the policy change he will initiate to assist in the monitoring of elections in countries that require observer assistance from the international community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3948/08]

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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The Government has a long-standing policy of responding to requests for election observers in as positive a manner as possible. Over the last ten years, Ireland has participated in over 80 missions and has fielded more than 750 election observers. The election observation mission programme is run by the volunteering unit in the development co-operation division of my Department. This is located in the new Irish Aid volunteering and information centre in O'Connell Street in Dublin, which was officially opened last month.

Our main partner organisations for co-ordinating election monitoring are the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe and the United Nations volunteers programme. Irish Aid also supports the election observation activities of the Carter Center, especially its programme to promote best practice in election observation. We send a small number of Irish observers to work with the Carter Center on its election missions.

The procedure for the selection of observers for these missions is based on processes developed by the Agency for Personal Service Overseas, which was the original agency responsible for administering the scheme. Since the integration of APSO into Irish Aid into 2004, the same approach to the selection of observers has been taken. A register of volunteers with election experience is maintained and updated on an annual basis. Selection for missions takes into account the skills required such as language proficiency and experience and knowledge of the country concerned.

In recent years, the election observation programme has been further developed with the fielding by Ireland of long-term observers for the first time in 2006, the inclusion of parliamentary representatives on the roster and the provision of training programmes for short-term observers. The numbers of participants in election observation missions has risen from 43 in 2004 to 95 in 2007. Currently we are considering invitations to observe forthcoming elections in Armenia, Bhutan, Pakistan, Nepal and Russia. I hope that we will be in a position to make a positive response.

In the interests of transparency and best practice, the roster is currently being updated with a view to putting it onto the Irish Aid website. I intend to continue to take a pro-active approach to having an Irish presence in election monitoring, where and whenever possible.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister of State for his reply. Following the elections in Nigeria and Venezuela, the losing Opposition condemned the election and claimed the votes were rigged. The same thing happened in Kenya and as sure as night follows day, we will soon have it in Pakistan and Zimbabwe. In 1989, the General Assembly of the United Nations passed a resolution on enhancing the effectiveness of the principle of periodic and genuine elections. The resolution received almost unanimous support and since then there have been many resolutions modifying it and supporting it. I ask the Government to take the lead on this issue.

There were no UN observers in Kenya — the observers were from the EU. However, it strikes me that they carry no weight and that they have no authority. Will the Minister for Foreign Affairs use the influence of the Government at the next General Assembly of the UN to try to tighten this proposal? We could then get agreement from the countries to be supervised that there would be some mechanism in place to sign off and state that the elections were conducted properly. At the moment, elections in many of these regions are a farce.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the Deputy. There were two elections in Kenya and Georgia over the Christmas period which were of great interest to our Department. Due to the uncertainty regarding the timing of the Kenyan elections, its long history of political stability and the short notification we received, it was decided that the elections in Georgia would be prioritised. The election results in Georgia were also challenged by the Opposition.

We had ten short-term observers and one long-term observer representing Ireland during the election mission. Given the recent events in Kenya, I hope that my Department will ensure Irish participation in any future EU election observation mission to that country. I agree with the Deputy that we must take this matter further. I would be glad to hear his views on observing elections.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Since 1992, the UN has received over 400 requests for electoral assistance from over 100 member states. The very first request was received in 1989. I would like the Minister of State to give a commitment that the Government will look at amending those resolutions so that we will have a real role. Shortly after confirming the election result, the Electoral Commission of Kenya disowned the result. I am glad to hear that the Minister will do something about this, because we can play a very positive role in changing the resolution at the General Assembly. Fine Gael may table a motion on the issue during Private Members' time in the coming months to get all-party support.

Michael Kitt (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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I agree with the point made by the Deputy. However, we must be asked to participate in monitoring elections and once an invitation is received from the EU, the OSCE or the UN volunteers programme, we make a decision on how best to respond to the invitation. We try to do that as quickly as possible. I would like to include parliamentary representation where possible and to have a good gender balance among the observers who attend these elections. I will get back to the Deputy on those matters.