Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 21 September 2022
65. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the policy of his Department on Irish citizens being involved in fake election monitoring missions; if such involvement will lead to a review of membership of the 2018 Irish election observation roster; and if it will act as a bar to membership of the next roster due to commence in early 2023. [46311/22]
View answerThe Department of Foreign Affairs administers and maintains a roster of suitably skilled volunteers, who are available to participate in international election observation missions organised by the European Union (EU) and the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). These election observation missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
The current Roster has been in place since 1 January 2019 and is due to expire on 31 December 2023. All roster members have been vetted by the Garda National Vetting Bureau. The members must also comply with the Department's Election Observer Code of Conduct and, as relevant, the Code of Conduct for EU Election Observers and the Code of Conduct for OSCE Election Observers. The Department does not currently intend to review membership of the current Roster.
Recruitment and selection of members for the next Roster will be on the basis of an open and competitive application process, informed by selection criteria for election observers set out by the EU and the OSCE. Appropriate due diligence will be undertaken, including Garda vetting.
