Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

503. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has considered sending Irish election observers to the forthcoming election in Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24667/15]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of 200 observers for election monitoring missions. We aim to ensure that Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international observation missions for elections. Irish observers participate primarily in missions following requests issued by the European Union and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). However, they have in the past also participated in missions organised by the Council of Europe, the United Nations and the Carter Centre. No request for monitors has yet been received in relation to the forthcoming Canadian elections. If any such request were to be received, it would be considered in line with other requests and past practice.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

504. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of applicants for Ireland’s election roster who submitted a curriculum vitae and obtained marks as a result; his plans to invite fresh applicants to join the roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24668/15]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of 200 observers for such missions. The aim is to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level in international election observation missions, organised in the main by the OSCE and the EU. The Department carried out a comprehensive review of the election observation roster in 2013. A public call for applications to the roster was issued through the Irish Aid website. All applicants were required to submit a detailed application form, setting out relevant qualifications, knowledge and experience in a number of areas. These areas included: experience of election processes and election observation; knowledge of human rights and/or governance issues; experience of living in challenging environments and language and computer skills. An independent appraisal of all 263 eligible applications was undertaken by two assessors external to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. I understand that two applicants, on their own initiative, submitted Curricula Vitae along with their application forms. In one of these cases, the Curriculum Vitae was submitted to the external assessors but as this application was, in any event, unsuccessful, the submission of the Curriculum Vitae had no impact on the decision in relation to that candidate or on the selection of the 200 roster members.

Following this appraisal, the 200 individuals who achieved the highest scores in these areas listed above were appointed to the new election observation roster. The roster came into effect on 15 May 2013 for a five year term and there are no plans at this stage to invite new applicants to join the current roster.

Finian McGrath (Dublin North Central, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

505. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he will provide in tabular form the name of each person who took part in Ireland’s international election monitoring since the beginning of 2014; the cost of each trip involved, detailing the qualification and background of each person selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24669/15]

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of individuals who are available to participate in election observation missions organised in the main by the OSCE and the EU. A full list of the observers who have served on election missions in 2014 and to date in 2015, together with the costs arising, is set out in the tables below. Consistent with standard practice on data protection, the personal details of election observers are not being released.As stated in reply to previous Questions, the European Commission covers all costs associated with EU election observation missions. For OSCE missions, the Department covers all costs incurred by the individual Irish election observers. This includes a daily allowance, based on OSCE guidance, to cover the cost of food, accommodation and local transport incurred in country. A return air fare is also provided. In addition, all Irish election observers receive a once-off grant annually of €600 from the Department to cover pre-departure expenses. Insurance cover is also provided by the Department for all observers.

Details of the election observation process are available on the Irish Aid website together with numbers of observers deployed to countries since the formation of the current election observation roster in 2013.

Election Observation Missions 2014

Election Observation Missions 2015 to date (June 2015)