I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 to 112, inclusive, together.
The elections desk is based within the Development Cooperation and Africa Division of my Department. Staffing of the elections desk is proportionate to its budget and that of the Division as a whole, whose purpose is to deliver on the objectives set out in A Better World, the Government's policy for international development published in February 2019. A review of the management of the election roster will be conducted by the Department's independent Evaluation and Audit Unit later this year.
The budget of the Irish Aid programme (known as Vote 27: International Cooperation) of my Department from 2013 to 2019 is set out in the following table. The table also includes the election observation budget. A new five-year roster was established in January 2019 and will run its course. The increase in the budget for election observation in 2018 was in part to offset the costs of the mustering exercise which allowed the establishment of that new five-year roster. A mid-year review of the election observation budget is carried out each year and, if necessary, prudent and proportionate to other calls on the international development budget, additional funds may be allocated.
As the security vetting of the persons short-listed to the new roster continues, the position regarding the disclosure of the list of names of the new roster remains as stated in the responses to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 73 of 29 May and 117 of 25 June 2019. Roster members are only circulated with information on election observation missions once they have completed National Vetting Bureau, or equivalent, procedures.
The issue of reasonable accommodation has been addressed in the responses to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 60 of 23 January, 153 of 5 February, 65 of 6 February, 58 of 7 February, 124 of 12 February, 100 and 105 of 26 February, 117 and 119 of 5 March, 74, 76 and 81 of 6 March, 68 of 12 March, 157 of 26 March, 115 of 16 April, 73 of 29 May 2019 and 119 of 25 June 2019, and in the Information Note attached to this response.
A characteristic of the Irish roster has been the broad base of expertise which Irish volunteers have brought in its different iterations since it was first established. Each new mustering is an opportunity to refresh the roster, and to extend the opportunity to volunteer to a range of new potential observers of differing backgrounds. Election observers who have been elected to national office bring unique perspectives into observation missions, which can enhance their quality and credibility.
Year
|
Vote 27
International Cooperation Budget
(in € million)
|
Election Observation Budget
(in € million)
|
2013
|
497.08
|
0.25
|
2014
|
479.16
|
0.18
|
2015
|
476.62
|
0.18
|
2016
|
486.43
|
0.18
|
2017
|
486.61
|
0.20
|
2018
|
500.13
|
0.25
|
2019
|
544.93
|
0.18
|
Information Note