Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 15 September 2020
369. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of missions undertaken since the establishment of the 2018 election observation roster; the location of each mission; the persons from the roster who were assigned to each mission; the number of the observers resident in Ireland versus the rest of the world; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23443/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra370. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the amount spent on election observation since the 2018 roster was established; the cost of airline tickets and fees and allowances paid to the selected observers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23444/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 370 together.
I refer the Deputy to my responses to Questions No. 338 and No. 342 of 21 July, as well as to Question No. 453 of 8 September, in which detailed information was provided on the current membership of roster of volunteers for election observation missions.
Ireland does not require volunteers selected for the election observer roster to be habitually resident in Ireland. All volunteers must be citizens of Ireland, to comply with a requirement that EU election observers be citizens of an EU Member State, Switzerland or Norway. No questions regarding habitual residency were asked of volunteers and no data on habitual residency has been generated for statistical or other purposes.
A wide range of data relating to election observation missions, including the number of missions undertaken, locations and costs, is published online on the Irish Aid and updated on a quarterly basis: www.irishaid.ie/get-involved/election-observation.
