Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2012
171 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the reason that female members of Ireland’s international election roster seem to be selected far more often for overseas missions than their male colleagues; if the review of the election roster will consider this gender imbalance and when he expects the review to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27735/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government believes that international election monitoring missions have an important role to play in the promotion of human rights and democracy, and 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 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. The EU and OSCE are committed to achieving a gender balance in their election observation missions. Member States are encouraged to nominate an equal number of male and female observers for each mission. In 2011, Ireland seconded 60 observers to election observation missions. Of these, 40 were male and 20 were female. This breakdown reflects the gender composition of the current roster, with some 200 men and 100 women available to serve on election observation missions. I have asked officials to review the working of the roster and to prepare proposals on future membership, which will include proposals on how to achieve a better gender balance when nominating observers to international election observation missions.
