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Election Monitoring Missions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 November 2012

Tuesday, 13 November 2012

Questions (165, 166)

Finian McGrath

Question:

165. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade further to Parliamentary Question No. 60 of 22 March 2012, if this review of the working of the election roster has been completed; the outcomes of the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50037/12]

View answer

Finian McGrath

Question:

166. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the individual cost of each trip taken by persons as part of Ireland's international election monitoring since the beginning of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50038/12]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 165 and 166 together.

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 in international observation missions for both elections and constitutional referendums. Irish observers participate primarily in missions organised by the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), but have also been involved in missions organised by the Council of Europe, the United Nations and the Carter Centre. So far in 2012, 57 Irish observers have been involved in missions organised by both the EU and OSCE, across 11 countries.

Observers who participate in missions supported by the Department are entitled to one pre-departure grant of €600 in every twelve month period to cover any costs incurred in preparing for the trip, including vaccinations and other medical expenses. For EU led missions, any additional costs are covered by the European Commission.Observer costs for OSCE-led Missions are met by the participating countries. In Ireland’s case, these funds come from the Irish Aid budget.

The election observation programme is subject to continuous monitoring to ensure it is efficient and effective and provides the best possible value for money. A list in tabular form of the costs for each Irish election observer funded by Irish Aid from January 1st 2012 to date is set out below. For obvious reasons, the costs associated with long-term observers (LTO) are higher than those for short-term observers (STO).

There are currently some 300 people on the Election Observation Roster. At present, the roster is not open for new members but I am aware that there are quite a number of individuals interested in joining the roster.I am keen to ensure that members of the roster will have the specific skills requested by the OSCE and the EU, including language skills. As previously stated, I have asked officials to carry out a detailed review of the roster and how it works, and to prepare proposals on future membership. I hope that the review will be completed in the near future.

Election Observation Missions 2012 to date

(57 observers on 11 missions)

COUNTRY

ORGANISATION

ROLE

NAME

COST €

January

Kazakhstan

OSCE

STO

Patricia Barker

3,643

Kazakhstan

OSCE

STO

Paddy Buckenham

3,193

Kazakhstan

OSCE

STO

Paul Cosgrave

3,643

Kazakhstan

OSCE

STO

Michael Humphreys

3,643

Kazakhstan

OSCE

STO

Cecilia Keaveney

3,643

February

Senegal

EU

LTO

Diarmuid Peavoy

0

Senegal

EU

STO

Aidan O’Shea

0

March

Russia

OSCE

LTO

Michael Verling

17,029

Russia

OSCE

STO

Grattan Lynch

4,301

Russia

OSCE

STO

Julian Clare

3,756

Russia

OSCE

STO

Noreen Kerins

4,301

Russia

OSCE

STO

Chris Andrews

4,301

May

Armenia

OSCE

LTO

Sean O’Callaghan

6,967

Armenia

OSCE

STO

Ann Ormonde

3,304

Armenia

OSCE

STO

Blaise Treacy

3,304

Armenia

OSCE

STO

Edward Horgan

3,304

Armenia

OSCE

STO

James McNamara

3,304

Armenia

OSCE

STO

Terence Fleming

3,304

Armenia

OSCE

STO

Brian Fagan

3,304

Armenia

OSCE

STO

Eimear Friel

2,717

Serbia I

OSCE

LTO

Orla Cluff

6,827

Serbia II

OSCE

LTO

Peter McMahon

3,685

Algeria

EU

LTO

Dorcha Lee

600

Algeria

EU

STO

Mary Boland

0

Algeria

EU

STO

Peter Ballagh

0

July

Timor Leste

EU

LTO

Mary O’Shea

0

September

Belarus

OSCE

LTO

Peter Donovan

8,086

Belarus

OSCE

STO

Noel Brennan

2,775

Belarus

OSCE

STO

Julian Clare

2,230

Belarus

OSCE

STO

Patrick Finneran

2,775

Belarus

OSCE

STO

Finbar O’Sullivan

2,541

Belarus

OSCE

STO

Deirdre Grogan

2,857

Belarus

OSCE

STO

Mark Long

2,857

Belarus

OSCE

STO

Rebecca Moynihan

2,775

Belarus

OSCE

STO

Anne Choiseul

2,775

October

Georgia

OSCE

LTO

Eithne MacDermott

6,730

Georgia

OSCE

STO

Cecilia Keaveney

3,546

Georgia

OSCE

STO

Eileen McCabe

4,146

Georgia

OSCE

STO

John O’Connor

4,122

Georgia

OSCE

STO

Peter Emerson

4,146

Georgia

OSCE

STO

Conor O’Clery

4,122

Georgia

OSCE

STO

James Mallon

4,122

Georgia

OSCE

STO

Les Allamby

4,122

Georgia

OSCE

STO

Richard McEvoy

4,122

Ukraine

OSCE

LTO

Seamus Martin

11,473

Ukraine

OSCE

LTO

Michael Verling

10,746

Ukraine

OSCE

STO

Eric Byrne

3,258

Ukraine

OSCE

STO

Geraldine Power

3,425

Ukraine

OSCE

STO

Raymond Dunne

3,425

Ukraine

OSCE

STO

Ciaran Kinsella

3,425

Ukraine

OSCE

STO

Fionnuala Brennan

3,425

Ukraine

OSCE

STO

Kevin Grogan

3,425

Ukraine

OSCE

STO

Julian Clare

2,825

Ukraine

OSCE

STO

Thomas Bellew

2,827

November

Sierra Leone

EU

LTO

Colm Fahy

600

Sierra Leone

EU

STO

Michael Coyne

600

Sierra Leone

EU

STO

Michael Boyle

600

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