22 Miss Quill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether APSO is funding the costs of some Irish election observers in South Africa; the number of observers sent through APSO; the budgeted cost of each observer; the total amount of money likely to be spent by APSO in providing observers; whether the costs are being reimbursed by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

26 Ms Keogh asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether APSO is funding the costs of some Irish election observers in South Africa; the number of observers sent through APSO; the budgeted cost of each observer; the total amount of money likely to be spent by APSO in providing observers; whether the costs are being reimbursed by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

27 Mr. Clohessy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether APSO is funding the costs of some Irish election observers in South Africa; the number of observers sent through APSO; the budgeted cost of each observer; the total amount of money likely to be spent by APSO in providing observers; whether the costs are being reimbursed by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

31 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, he has taken to guarantee the security and safety of all Irish volunteer observers who have gone to South Africa to work on the elections there in the coming week; the steps, if any, he has taken to guarantee the safety of those working in areas of high tension such as Kwa Zulu and other such places.

33 Mrs. Doyle asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, he has taken to guarantee the security and safety of all Irish volunteer observers who have gone to South Africa to work on the elections there in the coming week; the steps, if any, he has taken to guarantee the safety of those working in areas of high tension such as Kwa Zulu and other such places.

34 Mr. Cox asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish observers sent to monitor the South African elections were involved in a recent controversy relating to impartiality; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

35 Mr. Cox asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether APSO is funding the costs of some Irish election observers in South Africa; the number of observers sent through APSO; the budgeted cost of each observer; the total amount of money likely to be spent by APSO in providing observers; whether the costs are being reimbursed by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

36 Mr. Cullen asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether APSO is funding the costs of some Irish election observers in South Africa; the number of observers sent through APSO; the budgeted cost of each observer; the total amount of money likely to be spent by APSO in providing observers; whether the costs are being reimbursed by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

43 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Irish observers sent to monitor the South African elections were involved in a recent controversy relating to impartiality; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

46 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, he has taken to guarantee the security and safety of all Irish volunteer observers who have gone to South Africa to work on the elections there in the coming week; the steps, if any, he has taken to guarantee the safety of those working in areas of high tension such as Kwa Zulu and other such places.

51 Miss Harney asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether APSO is funding the costs of some Irish election observers in South Africa; the number of observers sent through APSO; the budgeted cost of each observer; the total amount of money likely to be spent by APSO in providing observers; whether the costs are being reimbursed by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

52 Mr. Molloy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether APSO is funding the costs of some Irish election observers in South Africa; the number of observers sent through APSO; the budgeted cost of each observer; the total amount of money likely to be spent by APSO in providing observers; whether the costs are being reimbursed by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

56 Miss Quill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of election observers provided by Ireland in respect of the South African elections; the number of these who are Members of the Oireachtas; the number who are public servants; the number being provided by non-governmental organisations in receipt of State funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

58 Mr. Connor asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, he has taken to guarantee the security and safety of all Irish volunteer observers who have gone to South Africa to work on the elections there in the coming week; the steps, if any, he has taken to guarantee the safety of those working in areas of high tension such as Kwa Zulu and other such places.

64 Mr. J. Mitchell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the steps, if any, he has taken to guarantee the security and safety of all Irish volunteer observers who have gone to South Africa to work on the elections there in the coming week; the steps, if any, he has taken to guarantee the safety of those working in areas of high tension such as Kwa Zulu and other such places.

67 Ms O'Donnell asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether APSO is funding the costs of some Irish election observers in South Africa; the number of observers sent through APSO; the budgeted cost of each observer; the total amount of money likely to be spent by APSO in providing observers; whether the costs are being reimbursed by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

72 Mr. Molloy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs the number of election observers provided by Ireland in respect of the South African elections; the number of these who are Members of the Oireachtas; the number who are public servants; the number being provided by non-governmental organisations in receipt of State funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

75 Mr. O'Malley asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs whether APSO is funding the costs of some Irish election observers in South Africa; the number of observers sent through APSO in providing observers; whether the costs are being reimbursed by the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 26, 27, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 43, 46, 51, 52, 56, 58, 64, 67, 72 and 75 together.

Ireland has for many years been a vocal critic of the apartheid régime in South Africa and has worked actively for South Africa's transition to a democratic and non-racial society. As part of the international effort to ensure that South Africa's first ever democratic elections on 26 to 28 April are free and fair we have endeavoured to ensure an adequate involvement by Irish election observers in response to the request from South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission.

Over 100 observers from Ireland are taking part in the international effort; 25 observers with the European Union's observer mission; 13 observers with the UN's team of election observers; ten observers with the UN's volunteer election monitoring team, and 31 observers with the monitoring teams that are being organised by the Association of European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA); 33 observers with the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC).

The selection and funding procedures for each of these bodies vary.