Paul Murphy (Dublin South West, Solidarity)
Link to this: Individually | In context

381. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his attention has been drawn to a statement by an international election observation NGO (details supplied) that encountered difficulties observing the last general election calling for greater clarification of the rights of election observers; if he has any plans to address these concerns; the proposed timescale involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27177/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Sections 98 of the Electoral Act 1992 specifies the persons who shall be admitted to polling stations while section 113 of that Act explicitly sets out who may be present at the counting of the votes. No other persons may be present without the consent of the relevant returning officer who is independent in the performance of his or her functions under the Act.

Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 98 and 113 of the Act, my Department, with the co-operation of returning officers, actively seeks to facilitate the attendance of observers at any election or referendum whenever such requests are received. 'Democracy Volunteers' has requested to observe elections and referendums on a number of occasions in the past and has been facilitated, including most recently at the general election in 2024.

In addition, the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights have undertaken Needs Assessment Missions in advance of the general elections held in February 2011, February 2016, February 2020 and in November 2024 . In each of these elections, the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights did not deploy full election-related missions. The last full election-related mission undertaken by the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights took place at the general election held in March 2007.

While I have no plans at present to amend electoral law regarding election observation, the legislation is kept under ongoing review and my Department will continue to engage with all organisations involved in observing elections with a view to facilitating any future requests to observe at Irish elections.