Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 February 2019
108. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade his plans to release the terms of reference, members of the board and allow oral hearings regarding the results of the 2018 election observer roster; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9717/19]
Amharc ar fhreagra109. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the details of the election observer roster members; and the country of residence of each. [9718/19]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together.
I refer the Deputy to the responses to the following Parliamentary Questions tabled during the months of January and February which provide further information on the election observation roster and the recent roster selection process: Question Numbers 59, 60 and 61 of 23 January, No. 120 of 29 January, Nos. 80 and 81 of 30 January, Nos. 146, 147 and 153 of 5 February, Nos. 61 and 65 of 6 February, No. 58 of 7 February, Nos. 124 and 138 of 12 February, No. 71 of 13 February, No. 129 of 19 February and No. 84 of 20 February 2019.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade maintains and administers a roster of suitably skilled individuals who are available to participate in election observation missions overseas, organised in the main by the EU and the OSCE. A new roster was put in place in January 2019 following a Call for Volunteers which issued in July 2018.
In the interest of fairness, an appeals process was made available to unsuccessful applicants. The appeals process does not involve oral hearings. The terms of reference are attached in the response to this Parliamentary Question and will be made available on the Irish Aid website.
The appeals panel consists of an external chair - a retired Ambassador - and a serving official of the Department, with combined experience in multilateral work, overseas election observation, human rights and democratisation.
