Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
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Question 172: 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 since the beginning of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27736/12]

Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)
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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 twelve 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 deployed since the beginning of 2012 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). Election Observation Missions 2012 (25 observers on 7 missions) COUNTRY ORGANISATION ROLE FORENAME SURNAME COST

January

Kazakhstan OSCE STO Paddy Buckenham €3,193

Kazakhstan OSCE STO Paul Cosgrave €3,643

Kazakhstan OSCE STO Michael Humphreys €3,643

Kazakhstan OSCE STO Cecilia Keaveney €3,643

Kazakhstan OSCE STO Patricia Barker €3,643

February

Senegal EU LTO Diarmuid Peavoy €0

Senegal EU STO Aidan O'Shea €0

March

Russia OSCE LTO Michael Verling €17,029

Russia OSCE STO Julian Clare €3,756

Russia OSCE STO Grattan Lynch €4,301

Russia OSCE STO Noreen Kerins €4,301

Russia OSCE STO Chris Andrews €4,301

May

Armenia OSCE LTO Sean O'Callaghan €6,967

Armenia OSCE STO Ann Ormonde €3,147

Armenia OSCE STO Blaise Treacy €3,147

Armenia OSCE STO Edward Horgan €3,147

Armenia OSCE STO James McNamara €3,147

Armenia OSCE STO Terence Fleming €3,147

Armenia OSCE STO Brian Fagan €3,147

Armenia OSCE STO Eimear Friel €2,560

Algeria EU LTO Dorcha Lee €600

Algeria EU STO Mary Boland €0

Algeria EU STO Peter Ballagh €0

Serbia I OSCE LTO Orla Cluff €6,827

Serbia II OSCE LTO Peter McMahon €3,685