ON TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17 PLENARY MEETING OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WAS HELD
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak at the beginning of the morning meeting announced the formation of inter-faction deputies’ associations in the Verkhovna Rada: “For the development of Ukrainian aviation” (the chairman – people’s deputy Viacheslav Bohuslaiev) and “On prevention and fighting of non-communicable diseases” (the chairman – peoples’ deputy Sviatoslav Khanenko).
The Chairman informed about the resignation of the people’s deputy Ihor Markov from the Party of Regions faction in connection with personal statement.
Authorized representatives of deputies’ faction made statements, announcements and proposals.
Volodymyr Rybak announced for consideration the issue about approving the agenda of the third session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation.
The Chairman said that the Conciliatory Council considered the draft agenda of the third session. He claimed that leaders of deputies’ factions have not approved the agenda and suggest consider three items: approve the agenda of the third session as a basis including all bills registered as for September 17; adopt the agenda of the third session in entirety without supplements 1 and 2, considering them later; continue consultations with the deputies’ factions, but approve the schedule of plenary meeting during the period of September 17-20, 2013 today.
Factions’ representatives voiced their proposals regarding this issue. Following the discussion, people’s deputies approved the schedule of plenary meetings for September 17-20, having decided to continue consultations with deputies’ factions regarding the agenda of the third session.
Parliamentarians considered several draft resolutions.
The Verkhovna Rada appointed the date for parliamentarian elections entitled “Ensuring equal rights and opportunities for women and men. Problems and effective methods of their solution” – October 23, 2013. 352 deputies voted for this resolution.
According to the results of the voting, the draft resolution on amendments to the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “On the committees of the Verkhovna Rada of the seventh convocation” was rejected.
The parliamentarians adopted the resolutions “On awarding the 2013 Prize of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for the contribution of youth in the development of parliamentarism and local self-government” (230 votes for) and “On amendments to the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “On the Prize of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for the contribution of youth in the development of parliamentarism and local self-government” (231 votes for).
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the resolutions on holding parliamentarian hearings entitled “Visa free regime between Ukraine and the EU: prospects and new opportunities for the citizens of Ukraine” (November 6, 2013) and “Participation of the youth in social life: economic activity” (November 20, 2013)
People’s deputies considered several bills in the second reading.
Following the results of the voting, the bills on amendments to several laws of Ukraine on the social protection of the homeless (340 votes for) and on amendments to article 59 of the Law ““On nuclear energy use and radiation safety” re customs clearance of radioactive materials” (312 votes for) were adopted in the second reading and in entirety.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine announced that the bill under Reg. No. 2522a was sent to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine in connection with adopting by the Verkhovna Rada the resolution from September 5, 2013 “On including to the agenda of the third session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the seventh convocation the bill on amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine regarding strengthening guarantees of judges’ independence and on referring the bill to the Constitutional Court of Ukraine.”
The parliamentarians re-considered the Law “On amendments to the Land Code of Ukraine re acquisition of land ownership” with consideration of proposals of the President of Ukraine. The Chairman of the Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations, Hryhorii Kaletnik announced the decision of the Committee to send the law for refinement to a specialized committee. 272 people’s deputies voted for the decision of the specialized committee.
First Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine reported on the draft law on amendments to several laws of Ukraine regarding mandatory commercial accounting and refinement of relations in the sphere of housing and municipal services. H.Semchuk informed that the government took into consideration serious remarks of the Central Scientific Experts Office of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and is ready to refine the bill.
The Chairman of the Committee on Construction, Urban Development, Housing and Communal Services and Regional Policy, Spiridon Kilinkarov, announced the decision of the Committee to send the bill for refinement to the subject of legislative initiative.
Following the results of the voting, the bill was rejected (10 votes for).
The Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis the bills on: amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re protection of investors’ rights and amendments to several laws of Ukraine re implementation of provisions of the Convention on the assessment of the environmental impact in a transboundary context.
People’s deputies considered two bills regarding amendments to the Law “On the unified state demographic register and identity documents that prove citizenship of Ukraine, identity or special status” (re free replacement of driver licence of old sample for the senior citizens).
The people’s deputy O.Lyashko suggested leave the mandatory replacement of driver licences, but to make it free of charge for the senior citizens.
The author of the alternative bill, the people’s deputy V.Nychyporenko, suggested that the owners of driver licence of the Soviet sample should receive new licence at their wish and in cases stipulated by the current legislation.
The Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and International Relations, Valerii Patskan, informed about the Committee’s decision to reject the bill of the people’s deputy O.Lyashko and accept the bill of the people’s deputy V.Nychyporenko as a basis and in entirety.
Following the results of the decision, the bill of the people’s deputy V.Nychyporenko was adopted as a basis and in entirety.
Parliamentarians re-considered two draft laws regarding intercountry adoption of Ukrainian children – on Ukraine’s accession the Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption and on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine in connection with Ukraine’s accession the Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.
The Representative of the President of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Yurii Miroshnychenko suggested postpone the consideration of the bills as both the Convention and the Law that implements this Convention into Ukrainian legislation require additional consultations.
During the discussion representatives of opposing factions supported adopting the bill on Ukraine’s accession the Convention on Protection of Children and Cooperation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine recommitted both bills.
People’s deputies considered several bills on celebrating memorable dates.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the resolutions on celebrating: the 100th anniversary from the date of foundation of Maria Zankovetska National Academic Ukrainian Drama Theater, the 100th anniversary of the birth of Platon Voronko, the 150th anniversary of the birth of Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi, the 120th anniversary of the birth of Oleksandr Dovzhenko, the 950th anniversary of Berehovo City, the 70th anniversary of liberation of Nikopol City of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast from German fascist invaders, achieved as a result of carrying out Nikopol-Kryvyi Rih offensive operation by the 3rd and the 4th Ukrainian fronts, the 70th anniversary of liberation of Ordzhokinidze City of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast from German fascist invaders.
The Chairman adjourned the meeting.
The next plenary meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 18.