PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE SECOND SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON TUESDAY, JULY 2, 2013
At the beginning of the morning meeting, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak announced establishment of the inter-faction deputy union “For Khmelnychchyna” in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. The people’s deputy Serhiy Labaziuk was elected the head of the union.
Authorized representatives of deputy factions took the floor with announcements, statements and proposals.
During their speeches, the leaders of “Batkivshchyna” and “UDAR” factions A.Yatseniuk and V.Klychko spoke of brutal rape of a woman by police officers in Mykolaiv Oblast.
Faction leaders demanded the report of the Internal Minister V.Zakharchenko in connection with the situation in the township of Vradiyivka of Mykolaiv Oblast, due to the rape of the 29-year-old Iryna Kashkova.
Volodymyr Rybak informed that he has invited the Minister of Internal Affairs V.Zakharchenko to the evening meeting in order to inform the people’s deputies about the events in Mykolaiv Oblast.
The Chairman further spoke of suggestions made by participants of the Conciliatory Council regarding the work of the Parliament during the last plenary week of the second session. In particular, it was suggested to decide in regard to each plenary day in particular, until all the agenda items are considered and the plan calendar is amended in order to hold two plenary meetings on Wednesday (a morning and an evening one) and to hold parliamentary hearings in the building on Bankova street.
He put to vote the proposal to continue evening session on Tuesday until all the agenda items are considered and the plan calendar is amended.
The people’s deputies upheld the proposal by 306 votes.
The draft resolution of plan calendar of holding the third session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation was reported by the Chairman of the Committee on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Ethics and Support to Work of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Makeyenko. He noted that the draft plan calendar suggests begin the work of the third session on September 3, 2013 and end it on January 17, 2014. According to him, the plan calendar stipulates: 9 weeks of plenary meetings of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine; 6 weeks of work in the committees, commission and factions; 5 weeks of work of people’s deputies of Ukraine with voters; 9 hours for holding Government Question Hour in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the resolution with 322 votes, considering the proposal regarding people’s deputies’ work with voters on the last week of September.
The Chairman of the Committee on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure, Ethics and Support to Work of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Makeyenko reported the draft resolution on the financial estimate of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for 2013.
Following the results of voting, (293 votes – “for”) the draft resolution was recommitted.
Volodymyr Rybak informed that the Interior Minister V.Zakharchenko will provide information on recent evens in Mykolkaiv Oblast at 1.30 p.m.
Chairman of the Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations Hryhoriy Kaletnik reported on the draft law on amendments to the Land Code and other legislative acts in the sphere of land relations re simplification of the procedure of land plots allocation, being prepared for the second reading. He noted that the law introduces norms, under which finalizing of documents on land plots arrangement and registration in the State Land Cadastre should be carried out by bodies at the place of land plots. Introduction of such norms shall promote accessibility of administrative services to population.
The law suggests exclude from the Land Code the provision allowing for the central body of executive power, implementing state policy in the sphere of land relations, to participate in delimitation of land plots that are in state and municipal ownership.
Legislative act excludes from the Land Code provisions determining the authorities of the central body of executive power that implements state policy in the sphere of land relations form administration of Sate Land Cadastre.
H.Kaletnik informed that during preparation of the bill for the second reading the Committee received 64 proposals, of which 47 were taken into account and 17 – rejected.
The bill was adopted in the second reading and in entirety by 316 votes.
The people’s deputies paid a one minute’s silence in remembrance of Ukrainian alpinists, who died on June 23 in Northern Pakistan in the result of a terrorist attack while mounting on one of the peaks that was devoted to the 70th liberation anniversary of Kharkiv from Nazi invaders.
Parliament members continued consideration of bills in the second reading.
Chairman of the Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations Hryhoriy Kaletnik reported on the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re refining the procedure of land plots allocation. He informed that the Committee has received 33 proposals during preparation of the bill for the second reading. 16 suggestions were taken into account and 17 were rejected.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill in entirety by 277 votes.
The people’s deputies granted a hearing to the information provided by the Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko concerning events in Mykolaiv oblast.
V.Zakharchenko expressed his condolences to the raped Iryna Kashkova and her dear ones.
The Minister reassured that “in no way do we hide or condone such disgraceful actions. On the contrary, the Ministry of Internal Affairs is interested in quick, complete and unbiased investigation of the case”.
V.Zakharchenko named irresponsible attitude towards fulfillment of duties by separate officers to be one of the main reasons of such high profile incident. Particularly, actions of the chief officer of Vradiyivka local police precinct and the head of the regional police department.
The Minister explained that “due to concealment of objective information on circumstances of the offence, the Ministry tardily reacted to the situation. Such scandals bring to naught all positive achievements of internal affairs bodies,” noted the government official.
Minister noted that he relies on support and practical suggestions of people’s deputies regarding further modernization of internal affairs bodies through adoption of respective acts at the legislative level.
V.Zakharchenko responded to the questions of people’s deputies.
The Chairman adjourned the morning meeting.
At the evening plenary meeting people’s deputies continued consideration of the bills in the second reading.
With 277 positive votes the Verkhovna Rada adopted in entirety the bill on amendments to the laws “On Geodetic and Cartographic Activities” and “On Land Management” (re introduction of state monitoring norms in the sphere of land management).
Parliamentarians considered the issue of members’ appointment to the Supreme Council of Justice.
The Chairman of the Committee on the Rule of Law and Justice Vadym Kolesnichenko informed that the Committee considered candidacies of Volodymyr Kolesnichenko, Vataliy Kuzmishyn, the current Minister of Justice Oleksandr Lavrynovych, and suggested by factions candidacies of Serhiy Vlasenko and Oleh Makhnitskyi for the members of the Supreme Council of Justice.
V.Kolesnichenko noted that the Committee supported all the five suggested candidacies for appointment to the Supreme Council of Justice.
Volodymyr Kolesnichenko, Vataliy Kuzmishyn, Oleksandr Lavrynovych, Serhiy Vlasenko,Oleh Makhnitskyi spoke before the Parliament.
The Chairmen of the subcommittee on youth policy, family and childhood of the Committee on Family Matters, Youth Policy, Sports and Tourism Mykola Zhuk reported on the draft law on amendments to article 18 of the Law “On State Support to Families with Children” (re state social support to disabled children). He noted that the bill suggests preventing from calculating the amount of state social assistance to disabled children from the general amount of state assistance to orphans and children deprived of parental care and taken under guardianship or trusteeship.
M.Zhuk informed that the Committee took the decision to recommend Parliament to adopt the bill as a basis and in entirety.
The bill was adopted in entirety with 364 positive votes.
At the request of “Batkivshchyna” and “Svoboda” factions the break was announced.
After the break the Leader of “Batkivshchyna” faction A.Yatseniuk explained the reasons for the break.
За його словами, опозиція запропонувала новий формат підготовки базових законів про вибори.
According to him, opposition suggested new format of preparation of basic laws on election.
A.Yatseniuk informed that the Temporary Investigative Commission was not created.
The Chairman reminded about the decision of the Constitutional Court on voting only in the session hall.
People’s deputies supported the proposal of the Returning Board re place for secret voting with 292 votes.
The draft law on amendments to article 40 of the Law “On Regulation of Town Planning” (re implementation of Tekhnopolis National Project) was adopted in the first reading with 251 votes.
The Law “On amendments to the Law “On Court System and the Status of Judges” regarding maximum number of employees of the State Court Administration of Ukraine was adopted as a basis and in entirety.
People’s deputy considered and adopted as a basis the draft law “On amendments to article 4 of the Law of Ukraine “On Lease of State and Municipal Property” (re waterworks of fishery process reservoirs).
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted as a basis the draft laws: on amendments to several laws of Ukraine re service in the military reserve, on amendments to several laws of Ukraine re reducing the number of licensing documents to be received by food market operators.”
With 332 positive votes the Law “On amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re authorities to make notification registration of collective agreements and treaties” was adopted.
The Chairman of the Returning Board V.Oliynyk informed about the results of secret voting. 309 people’s deputies supported V.Kolesnichenko, 244 – V.Kuzmishyn, 238 – O.Lavrynovych.
New members of the Supreme Council of Justice V.Kolesnichenko and V.Kuzmishyn took an oath before the Verkhovna Rada.
Parliamentarians considered a range of bills on amendments to the Law “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2013” (re change of subvention name), the Law “On amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On State Budget of Ukraine for 2013” (re remuneration of scientific-pedagogical and pedagogical personnel, involved in holding independent external assessment), the Law of Ukraine “On Sate Budget of Ukraine for 2013” (re reallocation of expenditures on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
The Chairman closed evening meeting.
Next plenary meeting of the second session is planned for Wednesday, 3 July.