Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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16. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the progress made on producing a new roster for election monitoring with an open transparent scoring form that will be available to those that were unsuccessful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3667/18]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. Accordingly, my Department maintains a roster of potential participants in election monitoring missions. The aim is to ensure that, in response to requests for Irish participation in international missions observing elections and certain referenda, that there is a pool of adequately experienced people who could contribute effectively to such missions on either a short or long term basis. Irish observers participate primarily in missions organised by the European Union and also those organized by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). A roster of 200 people was established in May 2013 for a period of five years, following a review of the previous roster and a public call for applications. Plans are well advanced with regard to the establishment of a new roster to come into operation later this year. Final preparations are being put in place to permit a public call for applications to issue in the coming weeks. This will be published on both the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Irish Aid websites. Those who have previously expressed an interest in applying to join the roster will also be advised when the call is published. A candidate information booklet setting out all of the necessary details including the eligibility requirements and the process leading to the establishment of the roster will be made available to all applicants. My Department will run this campaign in accordance with best practice and candidate score sheets will be made available to the candidates concerned.