International election monitoring missions play an important role in the promotion of democracy and human rights. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains a roster of election observers for such missions. We aim to ensure that, when requested, Ireland is represented at an appropriate level on 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).
Following a request from the OSCE in 2013 to nominate election observers in respect of the Azerbaijan Presidential Elections, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade circulated the call to members of the Election Roster. Following receipt and consideration of applications, the Department nominated two Long Term Observers and eight Short Term Observers to observe these Elections. These observers travelled in their capacity as members of the election observation roster and while in country operated as part of the OSCE ODIHR election observation mission, as is normal practice for these missions.
None of these ten nominated observers were members of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Houses of the Oireachtas in 2013.
