Plenary meetings on January 15, 2015

PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE EIGHTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 15, 2015.  

Having opened morning plenary session, Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman announced establishment of the inter-faction deputy union “For securing adherence to the Rules of Procedure of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and preservation of parliamentarism in Ukraine”. Naiem Mustafa-Masi and Yurii Levchenko were elected co-chairpersons of the union.

At the beginning of plenary session, the people’s deputies considered several draft resolutions on amendments to the Resolution of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine “On electing chairpersons, first deputy chairpersonsm, secretaries, and members of committees of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the eighth convocation and electing the chairperson of the Ad Hoc Supervisory Panel of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on Privatization”, registered under No. 1645 and No. 1646.

Following the results of voting, the resolution registered under No. 1645 was adopted in entirety and the draft resolution No. 1646 was rejected. The people’s deputies adopted also the resolution on including the people’s deputy of Ukraine Yu.Tymoshenko to the composition of the Committee on Human Rights, National Minorities and International Relations and relieving her of her duties as a member of the Committee on European Integration. 

Parliamentarians considered and adopted in entirety the draft resolutions on holding parliamentary hearings entitled: “On withdrawing from service Chornobyl NPP and “Ukryttia” object, as well as prospects for the development of exclusion zone” (March 2015) (Reg. No. 1355) and on holding parliamentary hearings entitled "On ways of stabilizing banking system of Ukraine" (Reg. No. 1644).

The draft resolution on the plan calendar for holding the second session of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the eighth convocation (Reg. No. 1583) was reported by the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on Rules of Parliamentary Procedure and Support to Work of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Pavlo Pynzenyk.

With consideration of the proposal made to the draft resolution, it was adopted as a basis and in entirety by 271 votes.

The draft law on amendments to several laws of Ukraine re refining the order of performance of active duty and issues of social protection of the citizens of Ukraine who do military service during the special period (Reg. No. 1525) was included into the agenda.

The draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re inevitability of punishment of persons remaining on the temporary occupied territory of Ukraine or in the region of anti-terrorist operation, and refinement of confiscation procedures (Reg. No. 1569) was reported by the Deputy Minister of Justice Ihor Bondarchuk.

Chairperson of the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement Andrii Kozhemiakin reported the decision of the Committee.

Andrii Kozhemiakin said that the Committee took the decision to agree with the Central Scientific Experts Office of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Secretariat and recommit the bill. 

During the discussion, the people’s deputies made several remarks to the bill and stressed its incompleteness.

Prior to voting, representative of the Government informed that the Government withdraws the bill.

Following the results of voting, the bill was recommitted (258 votes in favor).

The people’s deputy Yu.Tymoshenko drew attention to the fact that under the Decree of the President of Ukraine, today is the Day of Mourning for the deceased near the town of Volnovakha.  

The Presiding noted that in line with the Decree of the President, a nationwide moment of silence will be announced at 12 p.m.

The people’s deputies held a moment of silence in tribute to the memory of those killed by terrorists near the town of Volnovakha.

Factions of “Batkivshchyna” and Radical Party asked for a break in order to make a statement. 

Representative of “Batkivshchyna” faction Ivan Kyrylenko in his speech drew attention to the “catastrophic situation with local budgets” that requires immediate reaction at the legislative level.

Ivan Kyrylenko noted that “Batkivshchyna” faction proposes to immediately vote for the draft law on amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine, registered under No. 1728.

Volodymyr Groysman informed that this bill considers only salaries of the officials. “While there is a bill elaborated by the specializing Committee that presupposes funding of not only officials’ salaries but also the social sphere and educational institutions, etc. This bill is already elaborated,” explained the Chairperson. 

The bill registered under No. 1762 was placed on the agenda.

The Chairperson informed that Secretary of the National Defense and Security Council Oleksandr Turchynov is present in the session hall.

Secretary of the National Defense and Security Council reported on the measures taken by the Government.

O.Turchynov responded to the questions of the people’s deputies and specified some of the provisions of the document.

The Verkhovna Rada approved the Decree of the President of Ukraine “On Partial Mobilization” having adopted the respective law by 268 votes.

The draft law on the list of legal objects of state ownership that are not subject to privatization (Reg. No. 1567) was reported by the Minister of Economic Development ad Trade Aivaras Abromavychus. Minister informed that the abovementioned list includes 1478 objects.

Chairperson of the Committee on Economic Policy Andrii Ivanchuk reported the decision of the Committee to recommend the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis. He stressed the necessity of adopting this document.

Voicing their dissent, the people’s deputies from the All-Ukrainian union “Svoboda” surrounded the tribune and did not react to the requests of the Presiding to take their seats.

Volodymyr Groysman reminded that the President of Ukraine announced January 15 to be the Day of Mourning.

At 12 p.m. a nationwide minute of silence was announced in the session hall in tribute to the memory of innocently deceased people.

Volodymyr Groysman informed that meeting of the Coalition Council will be held during the break, and granted the floor to the representatives of factions who made their proposals on the bill No. 1567.

Representatives of coalition factions informed that they suggest recommitting the abovementioned bill.

The people’s deputies recommitted the bill by 233 votes.

The draft law on amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine (re specifying and bringing separate provisions in line with the applicable legislation), registered under No. 1766, was included into the agenda. 

Factions of “Petro Poroshenko Bloc” and Samopomich addressed the Chairperson asking to announce a break in order to grant the possibility to take the floor.

The Chairperson granted the floor to the leader of Samopomich faction Oleh Bereziuk.

The draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine (re refining separate provisions of social policy), registered under No. 1539, was reported by Minister of Social Policy Pavlo Rozenko.

Chairperson of the Committee on Social Policy, Employment and Pension Provision Luidmyla Denisova informed that the Committee upheld this bill and suggests that the Verkhovna Rada should adopt it as a basis.

The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill as a basis and in entirety by 277 votes.

The bill registered under No. 1767) was placed on the agenda.

The people’s deputies considered and adopted as a basis and in entirety one more bill on refining the applicable legislation in the sphere of labour relations.

Parliamentarians adopted the draft law on amendments to article 25 of the Law "On Vacation” (Reg. No. 1543).

The people’s deputies discussed and, following the results of voting, recommitted the bill on amendments to the Air Code of Ukraine (re subjects of state aviation), registered under No. 1542.

Deputy Minister of Finance Vitalii Lisovenko reported on the draft law on amendments to the Law “On Financial Services and State Regulation of Financial Services Market” re disclosure of information (Reg. No. 1545). He claimed the draft law establishes that financial institutions, whose activity is monitored by the national commission that exercises state regulation in the sphere of financial services market, are obliged to disclose information about themselves and services they provide by posting such information on the single public data base and on their personal web-sites.

The bill was adopted as a basis and in entirety with 254.

The Chairperson adjourned the morning meeting.

At the evening meeting the MPs continued considering bills in the first reading.

People's deputy Oleksandra Kuzhel informed about the draft law on technical regulations and conformity assessment (Reg. No. 1065).

Chairperson of the Committee on Industrial Policy and Entrepreneurship Viktor Halasiuk reported on the Committee's decision to recommend that the Verkhovna Rada adopt the bill as a basis.

Volodymyr Groysman informed that coalition factions and committees uphold adopting this bill as a basis and in entirety.

MPs adopted the draft as a basis and in entirety with 251 votes.

People's deputies then considered and adopted as a basis the draft law on development and state assistance of small and medium business in Ukraine (Reg. No. 1256).

Chairperson of the Committee on National Security and Defence Serhii Pashynskyi reported on the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re improving the order of military service and the issues on social protection of Ukrainian citizens who are doing military service during the special period (Reg. No. 1525). The draft suggests introducing norms on applying social protection for a special period, stipulated for military men called up for military service during mobilization, to military men called up for military service under a contract until the end of a special period or demobilization, and granting military men of compulsive military service the right to 10-day vacation.

The draft law also stipulates discharging form military service during the special period those military men of compulsive military service who served during the determined terms of military service, and call citizens up for compulsive military service; decreasing a number of reasons for Ukrainian citizens to receive deferment from doing compulsory military service; increasing time period of doing compulsory military service regardless of the type of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (18 months) and obtained higher education Master's degree (12 months); introducing criminal liability of citizens for evading a call-up for military service; specifying reasons for discharging military men from military service during the special period, etc.

With consideration of the proposals, the bill was adopted as a basis and in entirety with 256 votes.

MPs considered the draft law on amendments to the Budget Code of Ukraine (re specifying and bringing separate provisions in line with the applicable legislation) (Reg. No. 1766).

The bill was adopted as a basis and in entirety with 277 votes.

Then people's deputies considered and adopted as a basis with 242 votes the draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine on strengthening responsibility of military men, granting commanders additional rights, and assigning duties during the special period (Reg. No. 1762).

The draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re inevitable punishment of persons hiding on the temporary occupied territory of Ukraine or in the ATO area (Reg. No. 1767) was adopted as a basis and in entirety.

Following the results of consideration in the second reading, the bill on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine (re canceling the licence for import of active pharmaceutical ingredients) (Reg. No. 1498) was adopted.

Volodymyr Groysman informed about the situation in Donetsk airport where there is a fierce fighting, but Ukrainian military men do not leave the airport.

MPs greeted brave Ukrainian military men with applause.

People's deputy Yehor Soboliev addressed the MPs with an initiative to dismiss Prosecutor General V.Yarema.

The Chairperson adjourned the evening meeting.