International Election Monitoring

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 June 2012

Tuesday, 12 June 2012

Ceisteanna (81)

Finian McGrath

Ceist:

172 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the individual cost of each trip taken by persons as part of Ireland’s international election monitoring since the beginning of 2012; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27736/12]

Freagraí scríofa

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Eamon Gilmore)

Irish Aid in 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 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.

Observers who participate in missions supported by Irish Aid 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 doctor's certificates. Additional costs for observers participating in EU-led missions are covered by the European Commission. Costs incurred by observers on OSCE missions are covered by the participating countries, in Ireland's case from the Irish Aid budget.

The election observation programme is subject to continuous monitoring to ensure that it operates efficiently and effectively and provides the best possible value for money. A list in tabular form of the cost associated with each Irish election observer deployed since the beginning of 2012 is set out below. For obvious reasons, the costs associated with sending long-term observers (LTO) are higher than those for short-term observers (STO).

Election Observation Missions 2012 (25 observers on 7 missions)

Country	Organisation	Role	Forename	Surname	Cost
January
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
Kazakhstan	OSCE	STO	Patricia	Barker	€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	Julian	Clare	€3,756
Russia	OSCE	STO	Grattan	Lynch	€4,301
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	€3,147
Armenia	OSCE	STO	Blaise	Treacy	€3,147
Armenia	OSCE	STO	Edward	Horgan	€3,147
Armenia	OSCE	STO	James	McNamara	€3,147
Armenia	OSCE	STO	Terence	Fleming	€3,147
Armenia	OSCE	STO	Brian	Fagan	€3,147
Armenia	OSCE	STO	Eimear	Friel	€2,560
Algeria	EU	LTO	Dorcha	Lee	€600
Algeria	EU	STO	Mary	Boland	€0
Algeria	EU	STO	Peter	Ballagh	€0
Serbia I	OSCE	LTO	Orla	Cluff	€6,827
Serbia II	OSCE	LTO	Peter	McMahon	€3,685