Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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Question 49: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has been monitoring the preparations for the elections planned in Bangladesh for December 2008 at which it is planned to reintroduce a multi-party democracy; and if the EU has offered to supply election monitors or other assistance which may be of use in this context. [34194/08]

Micheál Martin (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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Together with our EU partners, Ireland has been monitoring preparations for the parliamentary elections planned in Bangladesh for December 2008.

An election observation Exploratory Mission was deployed to Bangladesh between 15th and 28th June last to assess whether re-deployment of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EOM), suspended on 11th January 2007 when the elections scheduled for last year were cancelled, would be useful, feasible and advisable. The deployment of the Exploratory Mission followed the renewal of the invitation from the Bangladesh Election Commission (BEC) to observe the elections.

During its deployment, the Exploratory Mission met representatives of the state and electoral authorities, as well as representatives of major political parties, civil society, the media and the international community. It also took notice of the findings of the previous Exploratory Mission conducted in September 2006.

Several of the 2006-2007 EOM's key recommendations have been followed up on by the BEC, or their implementation is underway, including the production of an electronic voter list; enhancing BEC's independence; mandatory registration of political parties; the display of results at polling station level; a fresh delineation of constituencies; and establishing a specific timeframe for the adjudication of electoral complaints. At the same time, progress remains outstanding on issues such as the involvement of civil society in observing the voter registration process; a women's quota and the role of the media.

Overall the Exploratory Mission was broadly positive about the feasibility and usefulness of an Election Observation Mission, subject to the easing of the State of Emergency which was declared at the time the elections were cancelled last year, and the resolution of certain election-related rights. A decision regarding the deployment of the mission is due shortly.