PLENARY MEETING OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE WAS HELD ON FRIDAY, 31 OCTOBER
At the beginning of the plenary meeting, Arseniy Yatseniuk, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, announced that the Committee on Economic Policy endorsed the Bill of the President of Ukraine on Immediate Measures to be taken in order to prevent Negative Consequences of Financial Crisis, and the Committee on Taxation and Customs Policy also scrutinized the Bill.
Then A.Yatseniuk stated that the leaders of Factions and Committees would hold a council in order to conciliate the Bill, which would be scrutinized at the session hall at 11 a.m.
Mykola Tomenko, Vice-Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, read out Deputies´ requests. Then he announced a recess.
After the recess, the People´s Deputies started to scrutinize the amendments to the Bill. Thus, they discussed Amendment 2, submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers. The Government suggested foundation of a Stabilization Fund at the expanse of extraordinary revenues obtained from the State property privatization in 2008, the funds of which should be used under the procedure established by the Government. The People´s Deputies called for exertion of parliamentary control over application of funds of the Stabilization Fund.
The amendment was declined (202 votes).
Then the People´s Deputies passed a resolution to continue the plenary meeting until the Bill was adopted in its entirety.
The People´s Deputies endorsed the amendments, pursuant to which, operations on import of pedigree thoroughbred cattle or genetic material into the customs territory of Ukraine should be exempt from tax. The People´s Deputies also upheld the amendments concerning refund of deposit (not exceeding 150 thousand UAH) to the depositors of banks-members of the Individual Deposit Guarantee Fund.
The Verkhovna Rada failed to uphold a motion, pursuant to which, establishment of a minimum wage at the rate of a living wage for able-bodied persons was postponed till 1 January 2011.
When the last amendment, submitted by People´s Deputy K.Liapina, concerning allocation of funds for the holding of extraordinary elections, was being scrutinized, the People´s Deputies, representatives of the BYuT Faction blocked the lectern.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine announced the recess till 6 p.m.
At 6 p.m. the Chairman announced that preparation of the Bill for its adoption at the Second Reading was still in progress, and prolonged the recess.
After the recess, Amendment 137, submitted by People´s Deputy K.Liapina, was put to the vote. The People´s Deputies failed to uphold it (189 votes), and started to scrutinize the amendments that had been discussed by the leaders of Factions and Committees. All the amendments were upheld.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the Law "On Immediate Measures to be taken to prevent Negative Consequences of Financial Crisis, and Amendments to certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine" at the Second Reading and in its entirety by 243 votes.
At the end of the meeting, the People´s Deputies passed a Resolution on Amendments to the Schedule of the Third Session of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the Sixth Convocation. Pursuant to the Resolution, the People´s Deputies will work in the districts on 3-7 November, and in plenary regime on 10-14 November.
Then the plenary meeting was closed.