Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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45. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 149 of 10 July 2018, the number of applications received for the election monitoring panel competition which closed on 20 August 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38113/18]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I refer the Deputy to the response to a previous parliamentary question on this matter Question 69 of 7 September 2018.

International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. 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 on international observation missions for elections and constitutional referendums. Irish observers participate primarily in missions organised by the European Union or the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

The call for applications to establish a new Election Observation roster was issued on 2 July last and the call was open until 20 August 2018. Late applications were not accepted. The call was published on two Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade websites: www.dfa.ie and www.irishaid.ie. It was also publicised on social media.

The closing date for the submission of applications has only recently passed and the applications are still being verified and screened. I can confirm that a total of 395 applications were received by the deadline on the 20 August 2018.