As outlined in my reply to Question No. 190 [6851/13], my Department coordinates the participation by Irish civilians in a number of international operations. In particular we manage the response to requests for participation in UN and EU humanitarian missions through the Rapid Response Corps as well as requests for participation in civilian crisis management missions overseen by the EU’s External Action Service and election monitoring missions overseen by the Organisation for Security Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). We also coordinate responses to requests from other bodies as they arise.
Ireland’s Rapid Response Corps is made up of highly-skilled people who can be deployed at short notice to assist in emergency relief efforts. Calls for applicants are published annually on my Department’s Irish Aid website and recruitment is undertaken through a competitive interview process. Roster Members are required to hold an appropriate technical qualification and possess substantial relevant professional experience, preferably in a humanitarian context, demonstrate a commitment to humanitarian values, and be in a position to deploy at short notice for periods of 3 to 6 months. Induction training for roster members is mandatory and is delivered in partnership with the Irish Defence Forces. The selection of roster members for deployment is undertaken by the UN agencies by matching skills, experience and competencies with the vacancy. When an Irish roster member is selected by the UN Partner, Irish Aid makes all the necessary preparatory arrangements (visa, travel, insurance and medical). Members of the Irish Aid rosters have deployed on 188 occasions to 42 countries. There are currently 11 members of the Irish Aid roster on deployment with the United Nations in 8 countries, Egypt, Kenya, Lebanon, Myanmar, the Philippines, Senegal, Somalia and South Sudan.
The European External Action Service (EEAS) issues periodic “calls for contributions” requesting Member States to nominate persons to fill vacancies in civilian crisis management missions established under the Common Security and Defence Policy. My Department maintains a list of persons who have asked to be considered for such missions, and also advertises positions of interest to Ireland through the Public Jobs website. My Department nominates applicants to the EEAS only where it considers that their qualifications and experience satisfy the requirements for the position, as set out in the call for contributions. The final selection of candidates is made by the EEAS from among those nominated by the member states. Member states bear a significant proportion of the cost of seconding their experts to missions. In light of the limited financial resources available, my Department deployed ten seconded experts in 2012. The Department of Justice and Equality is responsible for the deployment of members of an Garda Síochána to these Missions.
The Government believes that international election monitoring missions have an important role to play in the promotion of human rights and democracy, and my Department 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 elections and constitutional referendums. Irish observers participate primarily in missions organised by the European Union 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.
There are currently some 300 people on the Department’s Election Observation Roster. A call for applications to participate in the roster was recently published on my Department’s Irish Aid website, with a closing date of 18 February. The main requirement for inclusion on the roster is experience in the administration of elections (domestic or overseas). Candidates who fulfil the requirements are placed on the roster following an interview. The election observation programme is subject to continuous monitoring to ensure that it operates efficiently, and is currently under review. It is expected that a new roster will be in place mid-year 2013.
When a request for electoral observation is received from the EU and OSCE, the Department seeks expressions of interest from all observers on the election roster. From the expressions of interest, a list of suitably qualified observers is then drawn up, taking into account the length of time since their last mission as well as any specific criteria for the mission, including country and regional experience and relevant language proficiency, if applicable. Attention is also given to contributing to the commitment by the EU and OSCE to achieving a better gender balance on missions, as well as the need for Ireland to increase the number of experienced observers on our roster.
