Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 July 2024
434. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage if Ireland is a party to the 1990 Copenhagen Document; if he will conduct a review to ensure Ireland is in alignment with the various requirements in it, in particular the need to have a legal framework for domestic and international observes to be present in polling stations and count centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29702/24]
View answerThe Copenhagen meeting of the Conference on the Human Dimension of the Conference on Security and Co-operation in Europe took place from 5 to 29 June 1990.
Ireland was a participating State at the Conference, and is a signatory to the Copenhagen Document. This key document from the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe outlines commitments undertaken by participating States in respect of democratic elections, the rule of law, and other fundamental rights and freedoms.
In particular, section 8 of the Copenhagen Document notes that participating States consider that the presence of observers, both foreign and domestic, can enhance the electoral process for States in which elections are taking place.
Sections 98 and 113 of the Electoral Act 1992 provide, that in addition to the persons set out in those sections permitted to be present at polling stations or at the counting of the votes, respectively, permission for any other person or persons to be present is a matter for the respective returning officer.
In that context, and in accordance with the commitments set out in the Copenhagen Document, my Department, with the co-operation of the relevant returning officers, actively seeks to facilitate the attendance of observers at any election whenever such requests are received.
