Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 101: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the individual cost of each trip taken by persons as part of Ireland's international election monitoring in 2010 and to date in 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33044/11]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The Government believes that international election monitoring missions have an important role to play in the promotion of human rights and democracy. Irish Aid in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of observers for election monitoring missions.

We aim to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international observation missions for elections and constitutional referendums. Irish observers participate primarily in missions organised by the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), but have also been involved in missions organised by the Council of Europe, the United Nations and the Carter Centre.

Observers who participate in missions supported by Irish Aid are entitled to one pre-departure grant of €600 in every 12-month period to cover any costs incurred in preparing for the trip, including vaccinations and doctor's certificates. Additional costs for observers participating in EU-led missions are covered by the European Commission. Costs incurred by observers on OSCE missions are covered by the participating countries, in Ireland's case from the Irish Aid budget.

The election observation programme is subject to continuous monitoring to ensure that it operates efficiently and effectively and provides the best possible value for money. A list in tabular form of the cost associated with each Irish election observer in 2010 and 2011 to date is set out below. For obvious reasons, the costs associated with sending long-term observers (LTO) are higher than those for short-term observers (STO).