I refer the Deputy to the responses to previous parliamentary questions on these matters, Question 357 of 13 December 2017, Question 166 of 25 October 2017, and Questions 395 and 397 of 26 July 2017. A call for applications to establish a new Election Observation roster issued on 2 July last, with a closing date of 20 August 2018. No late applications will be accepted. The new roster will come into operation in January 2019, following the running of the competition for the volunteers and the completion of the appraisal of applications. This means that the current roster, established in 2013, will remain in effect until 31 December 2018, one year longer than had originally been envisaged. As this was an administrative decision no legal advice was sought.
A full list of the observers who have served on election missions from the establishment of the current roster in 2013 to date in 2018, together with the date of the election and costs arising, is set out in the tables below. Long Term observers normally deploy for between 4-6 weeks and their costs are considerably higher than Short Term observers who deploy for between 7-10 days. Names marked with an asterix are officials from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade who work on relevant geographic desks or as election Focal Points, and who on occasion also participate in such missions.
The European Union covers the costs associated with EU Election Observation Missions.
For OSCE missions, the Department covers all costs incurred by the individual Irish election observers. This includes a daily allowance based on OSCE guidance, to cover the cost of food, accommodation and local transport costs in country. A return air fare is also provided.
In addition, all Irish election observation roster members undertaking a mission, receive a once-off grant annually of €600 from the Department to cover pre-departure mission expenses. Insurance cover is also provided by the Department for all observers. The costs incurred by officials are paid on the same basis as other election roster members, but no pre-departure grant is provided.
I am advised that 21 individuals have withdrawn from missions since 2015, when records to capture this data were put in place. In all but one case, funds advanced by the Department were fully repaid. In the case where repayment was not sought, the pre-departure grant of €600 had been paid to a nominated observer who had commenced preparations for an EU upcoming mission. At a late stage, this observer was appointed by the EU to the Core Team overseeing the Mission. Given the extreme lateness of the appointment – within a day or two of their leaving for the Mission – pre-departure expenditure (such as vaccinations) had already been incurred. Under the circumstances the Department did not seek the repayment of the grant. In any case, the observer was selected by the EU for a separate Mission within twelve months, and on that occasion was not paid the pre-departure grant.
Tables
