From top: A March 2021 parliamentary question and answer on Election observations; Heber Rowan

In 2020, I noticed that there were over fifty different parliamentary questions on many separate occasions about Ireland’s overseas election monitors. These volunteer roles were seen as non-essential and were stopped during the lockdown on public health grounds. The questions on it continue this year, I think we should ask why that’s the case and what it says about our system of parliamentary questions.

Election monitoring

Election monitoring internationally is about ensuring that elections are conducted fairly and according to the democratic norms of fairness and the rule of law. Monitoring is an important study into the process of the election. It can highlight the strength of independence in civil society and the freedom of the press.

The reports of an election being fair or not has implications for international diplomacy and trade. Least of all, it can form part of local acceptance of a transfer of power and was even noted as a consideration in the 2020 US election. Indeed the objectivity of some observation missions has been critiqued in the past, though it is fair to say that in general, monitoring is trusted and respected. Ireland’s monitors take part in EU and OSCE missions all over the world.

Monitoring amid COVID

Now, it is reasonable to say preventative measures need to be put in place to protect the health of the experts and volunteers. The easiest way of doing that would be to stop them from travelling altogether and prevent COVID-19 from spreading further across international boundaries. When one considers the use of mandatory quarantine in place in some countries, it makes some sense that monitoring will be held back.

However, during the lockdowns essential work did continue in a variety of industries and domestically volunteers took part in COVID-19 testing centre assistance for example. Many people donated their time and energies for great causes for the benefit of all. However, international volunteering ended.

While for a time the denial of observation missions struck me as a signal that reviewing the democratic accountability of elections in other jurisdictions was a luxury, not a necessity… I could see the point on health grounds temporarily. Though it concerns me the longer international travel is curtailed.

All of it reminds one of the importance of understanding declared values versus revealed action. Action speaks louder. International cooperation is at the heart of how countries make their independence respected via adherence to democratic norms. It should resume sooner rather than later with the appropriate testing systems in place if it is deemed as essential to international relations.

The costs of parliamentary questions

With so many parliamentary questions on the same issue asked I am boggled. Either many members of the Irish parliament have the same opinion on this matter as mine or they are being lobbied by those on the monitoring panel seeking observation missions at elections. I’m inclined to believe it is the latter. While the costs are a day to day part of the running of a democracy so many on the exact same question is alarming. Let’s not forget that each question can effectively cost hundreds of euro to obtain an answer for and some TDs have been criticised in the past for asking an inordinate amount of questions.

That said, many questions being asked show that the TDs are very active for their constituents and are proactive in their approach to policy development. Though with so many on the same issue… perhaps another solution could be found?

Heber Rowan is a Sligo native with a passion for politics. He works in public affairs and enjoys listening to and narrating audiobooks. He can be found on Twitter and occasionally blogs on Medium.com.

Image: KildareStreet