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
|