Election Monitoring Missions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 June 2018

Thursday, 21 June 2018

Ceisteanna (60)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

60. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade when a new call for election monitors will be issued. [27316/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

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, when requested, an appropriate level of Irish participation in international observation missions for elections and constitutional referendums. Irish observers participate primarily in missions organised by the European Union or those organized by the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Plans to establish a new roster are well advanced and the public call for applications will issue on 2 July 2018. A notice to this effect was published on the Election Observation webpage of the Department on 15 June 2018.

The call for applications will be published on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website, as well as on the Irish Aid website.

A candidate information booklet setting out eligibility requirements and detailing the process leading to the establishment of the roster will be published for the information of applicants.