John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

109. To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if Ireland is prepared to send election observers to Hungary to observe its upcoming elections in April 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11803/22]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has requested Member States to nominate candidates for the position of Observers for the OSCE ODIHR Election Observation Mission to Hungary for the Parliamentary elections and referendum which are scheduled to take place on 3 April 2022.

This followed the OSCE ODIHR Assessment Mission visit to Budapest at the end of January 2022 and the publication of its report on 4February 2022 which recommended a full Election Observation Mission with 18 Long-Term Observers and 200 Short-Term Observers.

My Department has approved the nomination of up to three Short-Term Observers from the Department’s Election Observation Roster, subject to receiving an anticipated OSCE ODIHR call for STOs.

This is in line with commitments made by fellow EU Member States in supporting this mission. As a member of the likeminded group of EU Member States on the rule of law, Ireland supports the democratic process in Hungary and joins other likeminded EU Member States in supporting the OSCE ODIHR mission.

The final selection of nominated candidates will be made by the OSCE ODIHR.