17 December 2010, 16:45
ANOTHER PLENARY WEEK OF THE SEVENTH SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SIXTH CONVOCATION CONLCUDED ON FRIDAY, 17 DECEMBER.
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, opened the morning plenary meeting. He reminded that the Government Question Hour was scheduled for every Friday. Representatives of the deputy factions suggested that the Government Question Hour be dedicated to the report of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on the investigation whether budget administrators had efficiently applied the budget funds in 2008-2009 and the first quarter of 2010. The Factions suggested that Fedir Yaroshenko, Minister of Finance, answered their questions.
Representatives of the opposition factions demanded that the recess be announced. V.Lytvyn stated that the Factions BYuT-Batkivshchyna and Our Ukraine-People´s Self-Defence demanded a recess to be announced to hold the consultations and read out a declaration.
The Chairman put this suggestion to the vote. The People´s Deputies rejected it.
Ivan Kyrylenko, Head of BYuT-Batkivshchyna Faction, read out the declaration. He dwelled upon the yesterday´s confrontation between the Factions of BYuT-Batkivshchyna and the Party of Regions in the session hall, and its consequences. Representatives of other factions also assessed the yesterday´s events at the Parliament.
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, briefed on the agreement reached between the Verkhovna Rada Factions, the yesterday´s events, and the objects carried to the session hall by the opposition members (metal chains, rods). He asked, "Is it connected with the deputy activity?"
V.Lytvyn announced that People´s Deputy L.Hrach had been excluded from the Communist Party of Ukraine Faction.
Adam Martyniuk, First Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, continued to chair the plenary meeting. He gave floor to Fedir Yaroshenko, Minister of Finance.
The first question was the following one: what was the audit system? Was it comprehensive or focused on specific cases? How reliable is this audit? Is it independent?
F.Yaroshenko stated that in March 2010, the acting Government received an empty treasury and unbalanced system of state finances from their predecessors. Given the scale of misapplication and the signs of money laundering, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to engage foreign highly qualified experts to hold an unbiased and transparent audit of application of budget funds by the Government of Ukraine during the fiscal years of 2008-2009 and the first quarter of 2010. A respective resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers is registered under registration number 334.
F.Yaroshenko was asked whether the audit was independent. He responded, "The companies engaged in the audit have neither political nor personal interests in Ukraine. Moreover, they value their reputation, the loss of which will mean the end of their work. Therefore, the audit can be considered rather independent."
F.Yaroshenko explained: Japanese companies have bought the gas emission quotas in Ukraine. The funds received EUR 320 million, which totals UAH 3,2 billion, should have been allocated exclusively for the environmental protection projects, as stated by the Kyoto Protocol. However, the former government members and officials of the State Treasury violated international law and the budget legislation of Ukraine, converting this money into the national currency and transferring them onto a single treasury account. From this account, the funds have been used for the purposes not envisaged by the Kyoto Protocol.
Adam Martyniuk, First Deputy Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, read out the deputy inquiries.
Volodymyr Oliinyk presented the report of the Interim Inquiry Panel of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine set up to investigate the Application of Public Funds by the Leaders of the State Committee of Ukraine for State Material Reserve.
The report presents the materials, whereby the investigation bodies of the Security Service of Ukraine are being involved into the proceedings on 17 criminal cases instituted against 7 persons. The audit held by the State Control-Revision Service revealed an irreversible loss of state funds totaling UAH 2,4 billion. Material resource of 76 per cent out of 547 collecting enterprises has been plundered. The state sustained losses in the sum of UAH 4,2 billion due to the inefficient administration of the financial and material resources of the State Reserve.
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Resolution "On the Report of the Interim Inquiry Panel of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine set up to investigate the Application of Public Funds by the Leaders of the State Committee of Ukraine for State Material Reserve."
The People´s Deputies scrutinized two bills on amendments to the clause 2 of the Law "On the Temporary Ban on Exaction of the Late Payment Interest for the Public Utility Services" (re Effect of the Law).
The Governmental bill was presented by the Deputy Minister of Public Utility Service Sector Serhii Lasikov. He stated that the effect of the Law is terminated since January 1, 2011. Late payment interest for the public utility services (water supply, gas, electrical energy, heating, water sewage, maintenance and use of housing premises, refuse collection, maintenance of elevators) shall be calculated for the arrears as of January 1, 2011.
The bill was adopted as a basis by 255 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada voted for the proposal to charge the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine with the liquidation of arrears of wages at the enterprises and organizations irrespective of their property form during the first quarter of 2011. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine shall report to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine by April 1, 2011.
The People´s Deputies scrutinized two bills on urban development regulation (alleviation of licensing procedures in the construction sector).
The Governmental bill was presented by Ihor Sokolov, Deputy Minister of Regional Development and Construction.
The reporter announced that the bill enhances the licensing system in the construction sector, as it cuts down the number of licensing and coordinative procedures, reduces their passing time and the number of documents required; introduces the principles of tacit agreement, single window system and organisational unity in the licensing system in the construction sector; states that certain types of economic activity can be conducted without licensing documents on the basis of a declaration of physical infrastructure conformity to the legislative requirements; personifies responsibility of the architectural activity entities; suggests a gradual transition from the licensing of economic activity connected with the construction of architectural objects to the professional attestation of the construction managers; deregulates economic activity by delegating a part of authorities from the state regulation and control bodies to the self-governing organizations.
The People´s Deputies adopted the bill as a basis by 246 votes.
The Parliamentarians scrutinized and adopted the following bills: On Amendments to Part 1 of Clause 19 of the Law "On Single Customs Tariff", On Amendments to several Laws of Ukraine (re Operations with Scrap Metal), On Amendments to Clause 17-1 of the Law of Ukraine "On Electric Power Engineering" (re Terms of Enactment of the Extra Condition concerning Promotion of Electric Power Engineering from the Alternative Sources).
The Verkhovna Rada passed the Resolution "On Holding of the Parliamentary Hearings "Implementation and Enhancement of the Pension Reform" (16 February 2011).
The People´s Deputies forwarded the Law "On Amendments to the Law of Ukraine "On Diplomatic Service" with the motions of the President of Ukraine for adjustment.
The following bills were adopted as a basis: On Amendments to several Laws of Ukraine regarding Priority Areas of Innovations, on Amendments to several Legislative Acts of Ukraine regarding Price Formation (re Strengthening of the Control over the Prices at the Consumer Market), On Amendments to several Legislative Acts of Ukraine (re Regulation of Labour and Official Relations, and Correction of Legal Deficiencies in the Laws on State Secret).
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the bill on Amendments to the Law "On the Red Cross Society in Ukraine."
In the end of the plenary meeting, the People´s Deputies scrutinized three bills concerning introduction of the compulsory state social medical insurance in Ukraine. The first bill was presented by Yaroslav Sukhyi, People´s Deputy of Ukraine. The alternative bills have not been reported. In the result of the voting all three bills were rejected.
The Chairman adjourned the morning sitting.
The next plenary meeting of the seventh session will be held on Tuesday, December 21.