Election Monitoring Missions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 September 2020

Wednesday, 23 September 2020

Ceisteanna (109)

Cian O'Callaghan

Ceist:

109. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs further to Parliamentary Question No. 369 of 15 September 2020, if persons applying to join the election observation roster in 2018 had to supply details of their address to his Department; if his Departmental officials stored the addresses on computer packages such as spreadsheets; if they remain available; if a breakdown of successful applicants from the island of Ireland and the rest of the world based on available records will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25876/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Deputy Colm Brophy)

A call for volunteers for the election observation roster for the period 2019-2023 was issued in July 2018. Eligibility for the roster was open to all Irish citizens irrespective of the jursidiction in which they live consistent with the principles of the Good Friday Agreement as well as Government policy on the diaspora. The application form required each person applying for inclusion on the roster to supply their address. Just as no data on roster members' habitual residency has been generated for statistical or other purposes (as outlined in previous responses), the addresses supplied by persons applying for the roster have not been stored on computer packages such as spreadsheets and no such data sets have been otherwise generated. The Department therefore holds no breakdown of roster members by address/place of residence.