Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
107. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the number of election observers on the May 2013 roster that have not been on one election observation mission since the roster came into being; the number of such observers that have not applied for one mission in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33176/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI refer the Deputy to the replies to previous parliamentary questions on this matter, Questions 167 and 172 of 25 October 2017 and to Questions 393, 394 and 396 of 26 July 2017. The current roster complement stands at 193, with the reserve panel has been fully utilised to replace those who left the roster over its life to date.
138 of the current roster members have been on one or more missions: 55 have not taken part in an election observation mission since the roster was established. A significant factor in this is that the number of applicants for election missions is nearly always higher that the number of available places. I understand that some 25 members have yet to apply to participate in a mission.
One of the conditions which will apply to the new roster which will come into operation in 2019 is a requirement that volunteers must apply for at least two missions between the date of the commencement of the roster and 31 December 2021. If a roster member does not apply, and in the absence of a reason of sufficient weight, they will be deemed to have forfeited their place on the roster and will be removed.
