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Ireland an outlier in decision to halt election observer role during Covid

Other Western European countries continued to send observers to monitor elections during the pandemic.

Design for PEOPLE POWER project featuring a person putting a folded piece of paper into a slot in a box, with a table full of ballot papers being counted in the background

THE IRISH GOVERNMENT was a European outlier in its decision to completely stop sending election observers at the height of the Covid pandemic, a new investigation from Noteworthy finds.

Irish observers were not deployed over an 18-month period between March 2020 and October 2021.

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) halted nomination of observers due to “particular Covid-19 risks”. These included transit through airports, extensive in-country travel and interactions with observers from a number of other countries. 

According to the Department, the decision was primarily informed by the government’s Covid-19 legislation and advice on essential travel. 

Now, Noteworthy can show that Ireland was alone among Western European countries in its decision not to send observers.

Election observation is a key cog in a functioning democracy, ensuring fair and transparent elections. 

Irish observers are regularly sent on missions by the EU or OSCE – an international organisation focused on “peace and democracy”. Combined, they have deployed thousands of observers on hundreds of missions across the world. 

  • Noteworthy, the crowdfunded community-led investigative platform from The Journal, supports independent and impactful public interest journalism

So far this year, Irish observers were deployed to monitor elections in Kazakhstan, Montenegro, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Paraguay and Albania.

These range from short-term roles observing polling stations to longer-term missions to get an in-depth understanding of the political environment, meet officials and civil society groups, and coordinate observers.

The decision not to send observers during the pandemic led to multiple parliamentary questions. Several politicians raised concerns as to why Ireland was taking such a stance when other European countries continued to send observers.

As part of our PEOPLE POWER investigation, we analysed publicly available reports for all OSCE missions over this 18-month window.

This shows that 19 EU countries, as well as the UK, Switzerland and Norway, sent a combined total of over 530 observers during this period. 

Observers from European countries were also sent on EU missions during this period but the EU refused to release details of their nationalities to Noteworthy.

An international outlier

We asked other countries if they examined taking similar action. Sweden told us it initially looked at the option of pausing nominations but “were convinced” there were “sufficient safety measures in place” after talks with the EU and OSCE.

We asked DFA if it held any discussions with the EU or OSCE prior to making its decision. A spokesperson said that it “remained in contact with the EU and OSCE” in relation to “their cautious return to election observation missions”.

A spokesperson for the EU said countries “set their own internal policies” during the pandemic and member states “are not required to justify their decisions”.

Norway said it undertook a security assessment on every mission during this period before deciding on deploying observers. Denmark assessed Covid risks with each deployment, with fewer observers deployed in this period.

Both the Swiss and Austrian governments told us that they carefully assessed all circumstances, including the situation in the mission countries.

Estonia did not suspend sending observers, but only deployed fully vaccinated observers. Spain let observers “decide by themselves whether they wanted or not to go on missions, making sure they were aware of all the risks”.

One experienced Irish observer told us they would have preferred the Spanish approach, frustrated by our decision, as they wanted to assist in missions during this period. 

They felt a more thorough risk assessment could have been carried out, and that observers could have signed a waiver accepting personal liability for any medical complications during missions.

‘Vacating the international stage’

Members of an OSCE election observer team wearing facemasks observing election procedures at a polling station in Moldova in July 2021 OSCE team observing election procedures in Chisinau, Moldova in July 2021 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly OSCE Parliamentary Assembly

While the pandemic posed health risks and logistical challenges, a study from the British Academy in August 2020 outlined serious risks to the “transparency, accountability and security of electoral practices” if observers were not present.

“Given the way in which authoritarian leaders have manipulated the pandemic to consolidate their own authority, it would be a dangerous development for global democracy if international observers were to completely vacate the electoral stage,” it found.

The study said there were options available to hold elections safely under pandemic conditions, including hybrid election observation and sending limited observer teams.

This is exactly what the OSCE did. Although it initially suspended missions in March 2020, it was back up and running again by May with limited teams.

An analysis by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance found that observer teams on many missions in 2020 and 2021 were reduced in size, visited a limited number of polling stations or focused only on capital cities.

The EU also took a more measured approach, including cancelling some missions due to quarantine regulations and election postponements. It did, however, deploy observers on five missions in 2020 and 12 in 2021.

Each EU mission followed a specific safety protocol, including testing, use of facemasks, increased security and guidelines to respect pandemic rules in the election country, a spokesperson told Noteworthy.

DFA said the decision to start sending observers again in October 2021 followed “the government’s revised approach to international travel, the success of Ireland’s vaccine roll-out, and the evolution of the pandemic internationally”.

Ireland’s election monitoring resumed in November 2021, sending nine observers to oversee parliamentary elections in Kyrgyzstan as part of an OSCE team.

PEOPLE POWER

Is Ireland playing its part in overseas election observation?

We also find lack of transparency is harming Ireland’s election observer role

Repeat of the design for PEOPLE POWER project

By Niall Sargent of Noteworthy

This investigation was proposed and funded by you, our readers. Noteworthy is the crowdfunded investigative journalism platform from The Journal. 

Please support our work by submitting an idea, helping to fund a project or setting up a monthly contribution to our investigative fund HERE>>

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8 Comments
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    Mute Sean O'Dhubhghaill
    Favourite Sean O'Dhubhghaill
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    Dec 1st 2023, 11:49 AM

    Good.

    213
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    Mute lastfewchocices
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    Dec 1st 2023, 12:27 PM

    @Sean O’Dhubhghaill: it’s excellent. Also interesting that the comments are open on this. Seems very random.

    129
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    Mute Jen McC
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    Dec 1st 2023, 12:45 PM

    About time, the point of the vote was so people no longer had to travel. If you offer a health service, it needs to be local.

    163
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    Mute Sheila McNulty
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    Dec 1st 2023, 3:17 PM

    @Jen McC: health service its certainly not that for the baby

    129
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    Mute Chutes
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    Dec 1st 2023, 5:39 PM

    @Sheila McNulty: You gonna look after it for life? If not then it’s nothing to do with you.

    60
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    Mute Gerry Kelly
    Favourite Gerry Kelly
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    Dec 1st 2023, 1:29 PM

    5 more hospitals will be allowed provide “abortion services”
    AND you won’t be allowed hold even a silent vigil outside if you believe it’s wrong to kill unborn babies
    Our new “tolerant” and “progressive” Ireland is indeed a wonderful place

    176
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    Mute Margaret Brennan
    Favourite Margaret Brennan
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    Dec 1st 2023, 1:38 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: what don’t you hold a silent vigil on your own womb ?

    193
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    Mute Joanne Husband
    Favourite Joanne Husband
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    Dec 1st 2023, 1:46 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: nor should you be allowed to, make your own decisions for yourself based on your beliefs/standards/morals and leave others to do so also.

    161
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    Mute ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere
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    Dec 1st 2023, 1:51 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: Who told you unborn babies are being killed?

    How on Earth would any sensible person arrive at that conclusion?

    50
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    Mute Ciaran Forde
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    Dec 1st 2023, 1:53 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: Yes absolutely the right call. Have the vigil in your backgarden.

    72
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    Mute Jon Doesn't
    Favourite Jon Doesn't
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    Dec 1st 2023, 2:14 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: light a candle in your own gaffe… Do as long a vigil as u like.. While doing so, ask gods forgiveness for poking your nose into other’s business and for judging others actions.. And if you have a green house, throw a stone or two.

    119
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    Mute Colm O' Shea
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    Dec 1st 2023, 2:16 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: you can hold a vigil, just not directly outside a hospital, feel free to have a non silent vigil outside the Dail etc.
    Not allowed outside hospitals because it has been used to intimidate women who are going for legal medical treatment

    94
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    Mute The Anti palestine And Islam
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    Dec 1st 2023, 5:29 PM

    @Gerry Kelly: F off with your vigil.

    29
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    Mute Chris O'Brien
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    Dec 1st 2023, 12:47 PM

    Imagine a hospital providing legal service being news.

    94
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    Mute lucia
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    Dec 1st 2023, 8:32 PM

    As a nurse I saw my first abortion in the 80s in the uk it was horrific I’m glad I’m now retired and don’t have to see it done ever again

    66
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    Mute Jason Memail
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    Dec 2nd 2023, 11:41 PM

    @lucia: Ever see open heart surgery? Horrific stuff.

    10
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    Mute Padraig O'Brien
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    Dec 1st 2023, 7:15 PM

    So they are expanding this service. Contrast with lack of any provision of dental services for children who need general anaesthetics.

    40
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    Mute Karen Byrne
    Favourite Karen Byrne
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    Dec 1st 2023, 6:24 PM

    Absolutely disgusting to do this
    How you’d sleep at night would be beyond me
    Have a bit of cop on go on something if you dnt want a child

    59
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    Mute Jason Memail
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    Dec 2nd 2023, 11:43 PM

    @Karen Byrne: The irony of telling people to cop on while displaying zero. Poor effort at trolling, 2/10

    5
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    Mute Simon Eales
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    Dec 1st 2023, 6:34 PM

    Two fingers up to the old Catholic Ireland. Viva la modern society

    31
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    Mute Seanfhear míshásta
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    Dec 1st 2023, 6:26 PM

    Good but why has it taken so long?

    23
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