Ireland does not satisfy international standard for election observation, group claims
The Government has been called on to reassess legislation around election observing after reported issues during the general election.
Non-governmental organisation Democracy Volunteers sent a group of observers to Dublin and Kildare to observe but said that while the Government and "many individual returning officers" are welcoming, some were not.
The group claimed Ireland does not fully meet the international standard for election observation as, in the case of a general election, observation is only possible where each individual returning officer gives their approval for it to go ahead.
As a result, election observation can, and sometimes is, prevented by local returning officers, said director of Democracy Volunteers, Dr John Ault.
"This is not an ideal situation as, despite the clear benefits of election observation, which the Irish Foreign Ministry contributes to around the world, as part of the EU and the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) states, it does not fully allow observation of its own elections," said Dr Ault.
"We therefore call on the Irish Government to reassess its legalisation regarding election observation to allow domestic and international observers full access to the voting process."
Minister for housing and local government, James Browne, said his department actively seeks to facilitate the attendance of observers at any election or referendum whenever such requests are received.
Mr Browne said requests from Democracy Volunteers have been facilitated in the past, including the most recent general election.
The OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights undertook needs assessment missions in advance of the last four general elections, Mr Browne noted.
However, on these occasions it did not deploy full election-related missions with the last full mission taking place ahead of the general election in March 2007.
Responding to a question from People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, Mr Browne said there are no plans at present to amend electoral law regarding election observation.
"The legislation is kept under ongoing review and my department will continue to engage with all organisations involved in observing elections with a view to facilitating any future requests to observe at Irish elections," said Mr Browne.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
Buyers from 'The Pale' flock to sunspot Ballycotton as village marks first €1m+ house sale
IS Dublin, and Leinster, doing to East Cork's Ballycotton what American buyers are doing to Kinsale, driving prices up a gear, or several? Recent and just agreed sales would indicate an unqualified 'yes.' 5 Atlantic Terrace is new to market with agent Adrianna Hegarty: it dates to the early 1800s They include sale terms agreed after a swift and unrelenting bidding war at €1.1m for the refurbished Troy House, our May 10 Property & Home p1 and internal feature of a home done to the n-th degree by an interior designer owner Troy House is sale agreed at €1.1m, the strongest price to date in East Cork's Ballycotton : it soared past its €695,000 AMV, being bought by a Leinster purchaser, with a US bidder at the same €1.1 sum failing to get to view before the vendor accepted the Irish offer from within The Pale. Interior of Troy House Also just sale agreed is the diminutive boathouse, a wreck in stones on a tiny footprint by a secondary pier used by local fishermen: the old boathouse went for sale in April, guiding €70,0000 and is been bought by a Dulin bidder for €205k, to local amazement, with the buyer reportedly 'loving a project,' says selling agent Adrianna Hegarty, who says he hasn't disclosed if he plans a residential bolthole right by the water, or some commercial use. Ballycotton's old boathouse sale agreed at €200,000 'The holiday home here has taken off, people have waited years for supply here,' says Ms Hegarty as her June 2025 launch of 5 Atlantic Terrace at €395,000 (it's an executor sale) already has bidding on the c 700 sq ft quaint two-bed at €425,000 late this week, and is still climbing. View from 5 Atlantic Terrace With sea and pier views, and dual aspect/access, the compact early 19th century home has a wood-burning stove, double glazing and central heating, but still scores a F BER. Living room at 5 Atlantic Terrace Ms Hegarty notes sales on the charming terrace are uncommon, and attributes the current demand for the seaside village to a number of factors: She includes the proximity of Ballymaloe House, its cookery school and the Castlemartyr Resort; the impact of local entrepreneur Pearse Flynn whose Sea Church music venue, and just repositioned Cush restaurant (ex Pier 26) as well as the Blackbird pub and café has massively broadened the profile and driven visitor numbers to new heights. Daughter Niamh Hegarty of the same Midleton-based agency agrees: she says that relative proximity to Cork city and the airport also aids access - while parts of West Cork can be two or more hours from the city; she adds that online social media such as TikTok and Instagram reels are boosting Ballycotton's profile, beaches and beauty even further, with a number of major UK and US influencers adding to the overall lifestyle picture. 'The surprise isn't that it's happening to Ballycotton, the surprise is it's taken so long,' Niamh Hegarty says simply.
Irish Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Gerry Adams to donate €100k to Irish language and Palestinian charities
Gerry Adams said he will donate the €100,000 (£84,000) he is to receive in damages from the BBC to charities that help children in Gaza, the homeless in Ireland and Irish language groups. Mr Adams took the BBC to court over a 2016 episode of its Spotlight programme, and an accompanying online story, which he said defamed him by alleging he sanctioned the killing of former Sinn Fein official Denis Donaldson, for which he denies any involvement. Last Friday a jury at the High Court in Dublin found in his favour and awarded him €100,000 (£84,000) after determining that was the meaning of words included in the programme and article. The BBC will also have to pay Mr Adams's legal costs. During an eight-minute video posted on the official Sinn Fein YouTube channel, Mr Adams accused the BBC of showing "arrogance" when it did not resolve the dispute after he issued legal letters nine years ago. In Putting Manners On The BBC – The Gerry Adams Blog, Mr Adams said that the BBC has been held accountable for the content it broadcasts. Mr Adams said: "As for the money that the jury awarded me in damages, I will donate this to good causes. "These will include the children of Gaza, groups in Ireland involved in helping the homeless, Cumann Carad, the Irish language sector and other projects like this in west Belfast." He added: "When the case began six weeks ago, the BBC's legal strategy was evident very quickly. Their narrative was that pursued by successive British and Irish governments for years. "They blamed everything during the conflict on Irish Republicans and by extension, during this trial, on me. "The BBC lawyers embarked on a Jesuitical presentation of the case that tried to convince the jurors that the words broadcast and published by the British Broadcasting Corporation, that I had sanctioned the murder of Denis Donaldson, did not, in fact, mean that I sanctioned the murder of Denis Donaldson. "They were, they said, that's the British Broadcasting Corporation, not defending the truth of the accusation. "Instead they were defending, they claimed, their journalism, which they said was fair and reasonable, in the public interest and made in good faith. "They concluded their case by trying to exert moral pressure on the jurors by claiming that a defeat for the British Broadcasting Corporation would be a blow to freedom of speech and a setback to victims. "In the end the jury didn't buy in to any of this. "On all the key issues the jurors unanimously accepted that the script used by the Spotlight programme did mean that I had sanctioned and approved the murder of Denis Donaldson." He said that after the BBC's decision to air the Spotlight programme, he decided to sue the broadcaster. Mr Adams said the BBC could have resolved the dispute there and then. "They chose not to. Why? That's a question to be asked. Why did they not resolve this issue when they could have? "Was it arrogance? Yes, that's part of it. But I also suspect political interference. "In January, the British Prime Minister Keir Starmer responded to a decision in the High Court in Belfast, which included that I and, by implication, up to 400 other former internees, were wrongfully detained and that we were entitled to compensation. "Mr Starmer told the British Parliament that he would look at every conceivable way to block compensation being paid." Mr Adams also urged the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan to meet Denis Donaldson's family. He signed off by saying "slan agus tog go bog e", which means goodbye and take it easy. Earlier this week the BBC was granted time to consider appealing against the jury's decision. The broadcaster was granted a stay on paying the full costs and damages to allow it time to consider whether to lodge an appeal. The stay was subject to paying half the damages (€50,000 or £42,000) and €250,000 (£210,000) towards solicitors' fees.
Irish Post
an hour ago
- Irish Post
Irish economy grew in first quarter of year due to exporting increase ahead of US tariffs
IRELAND'S GDP increased by 9.7 per cent in the first quarter of this year new figures show. The Central Statistics Office published the Quarterly National Accounts for the first quarter of 2025 today. They show the rise in gross domestic product (GDP) which was driven by a substantial increase in goods exports as firms' rushed to export to the US ahead of the proposed higher tariff's due to be implemented by President Trump on EU goods. Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe 'I note the substantial quarterly increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of 9.7 per cent in the first quarter of this year,' Finance Minister Pascal Donohoe said today. 'This was driven by a significant increase in the export of goods, and reflects, in large part, the 'front-loading' of exports in anticipation of the imposition of tariffs by the US administration,' he explained. 'This is also a feature in other countries, though the scale is much larger in Ireland. 'My officials assess this as likely to be temporary – with exports and GDP likely to moderate over the course of this year.' Elsewhere the figures show the nation's Modified Domestic Demand – which is deemed a more appropriate indicator of activity in the domestic economy – grew by 0.8 per cent relative to the previous quarter and by one per cent on an annual basis. Consumer spending grew at a pace of 2.5 per cent in the first quarter according to the report. 'Today's results highlight, once again, that GDP is not an accurate reflection of economic activity happening 'on the ground',' Minister Donohoe said. 'This is why alternative indicators, such as Modified Domestic Demand, are so important in an Irish context. 'On this basis, the domestic economy grew by 0.8 per cent in the first quarter. 'This is a more accurate reflection of developments in the domestic economy and is consistent with the strength of our labour market – with a record 2.8 million people in employment at the beginning of the year.' Mr Donohoe claims the figures confirm the 'relatively strong position of the domestic economy at the start of this year'. 'Looking ahead, however, the economic outlook has become increasingly challenging,' he added. 'Indeed, the significant increase in uncertainty is likely weighing on growth,' Mr Donohoe suggested. 'In this more challenging global environment, we must focus on policy areas where we can exert influence. "In particular, continuing to boost our competitiveness will be key to ensuring that Ireland remains an attractive place to live, work and invest – not just today, but over the long term.' See More: Economy, Exporting, GDP, Ireland, Tariffs, US
