Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 29: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 22 March 2012, the progress made on reviewing the working of the election roster and in preparing proposals on the future membership; and if the existing members will be informed and consulted on possible changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24662/12]

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 30: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of members that have joined or left the Irish Overseas Election Observation Panel for each of the past four years; if there is an upper age limit to be a member of the roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24663/12]

Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 29 and 30 together.

The Government believes that international election monitoring missions have an important role to play in the promotion of human rights and democracy, and 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.

There are currently 300 people on the Department's Election Observation Roster. The roster is not open for new members at present, but, given the interest in participation and the need to identify new members with specific skills, especially language skills, I have asked officials to review the working of the roster and to prepare proposals on future membership. This review is nearing conclusion and I will decide on proposals for future membership of the roster in the near future.

There is at present no formal process for leaving the election observation roster, but members can ask to have their membership deactivated. In order to address a shortage of observers with strong language skills, a recruitment drive for French and Spanish speakers was held between 2008 and 2010. Since 2008 there have also been some new members who qualify for inclusion based on their status as public representatives. There is no upper age limit for membership of the roster and observers of all ages participate on missions once they have been certified as fit by their doctor. A full list of the numbers of people who have joined or left the roster between 2008 and 2011 is provided in tabular form below.