24 October 2013, 18:30
ON THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, PLENARY MEETINGS OF THE THIRD SESSION OF THE VERKHOVNA RADA OF UKRAINE OF THE SEVENTH CONVOCATION WERE HELD
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Rybak when opening the morning meeting informed that today is the United Nations Day. “It is great to know that Ukraine is one of the founding member states of the United Nations Organization. We wish this respectful organization further fruitful work, realization of humanity’s hopes for the protection of human rights, for supporting equality between people, and for overcoming poverty and violence in the world,” noted Volodymyr Rybak.
The Chairman informed that two factions, the Party of Regions and the Communist Party of Ukraine, demand a break and a chance to voice their statements.
The representatives from the Party of Regions Volodymyr Oliinyk informed that yesterday during the meeting of the Committee on Legislative Support of Law Enforcement he suggested include to the agenda, for consideration in the Committee, two bills of opposition deputies S.Mishchenko and A.Labunska regarding the treatment of convicted Ukrainian citizens abroad.
According to V.Oliinyk, bills of the people’s deputies S.Mishchenko and A.Labunska are imperfect, they should be refined.
Factions Batkivshchyna and UDAR also demanded a break and a chance voice their statements.
The leader of Batkivshchyna faction Arsenii Yatseniuk claimed that “the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych last Thursday said that he would sign the bill that would stop selective justice. Neither the President nor the Party of Regions has submitted this bill to the Parliament. Thus, we, three opposition factions of the Parliament Batkivshchyna, UDAR and Svoboda, submit to the Parliament the Law on the prohibition of selective justice,” the faction Leader informed.
A.Yatseniuk informed that this Law complies with criteria determined by the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union of December 10, 2012.
The Chairman of the Committee on Culture and Spirituality Viacheslav Kyrylenko reported on the draft resolution on holding parliamentary hearings entitled “Taras Shevchenko as a figure of world significance” (dedicated to the 200th birth anniversary). He said that now the preparation for celebration of the 200th birth anniversary of Taras Shevchenko is being done.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted the resolution in entirety by 364 votes.
The people’s deputies considered several bills in the second hearing.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted in entirety the draft laws on amendments to the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Infringements re settling the issues that prevent from execution of administrative sanctions and on amendments to article 22 of the Law “On State Budget of Ukraine for 2013” re restructuring of actual budget indebtedness by issuing financial treasury bills.
The people’s deputy Nestor Shufrych reported on the draft law "On Hunting Sector and Hunting". He claimed that the current law does not comply with present realia and dictates of time.
N. Shufrych claims that the actions resulting from the adoption of this law will minimize the consequences of poaching.
The Chairperson of Committee on Environmental Policy, Use of Natural Resources and Chornobyl Aftermath Mitigation Iryna Sekh informed that the Committee unanimously decided to postpone the consideration of the bill and consider it after receiving respective conclusions from the Ministries and Departments.
The Chairperson of Committee voiced several remarks to the bill, noting that it was submitted in order for the people’s deputies not to notice the comparison table.
During the discussion, the people’s deputies voiced different opinions on this bill. The representatives from the Party of Regions informed that they would uphold the bill.
The bill was submitted for the repeated first hearing.
The people’s deputies considered the draft law on amendments to the Law “On the State Budget of Ukraine for 2013” re repaying a debt for energy resources.
The representatives of opposition factions informed the Chairman about the violation of the Rules of Procedure during the voting for this bill in entirety, particularly regarding non-personal voting.
The Chairman put the draft law on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine re record keeping and registration of taxpayers to vote. Then, he put to re-voting the proposal to adopt as a basis the bill on amendments to the Law “On State Budget of Ukraine for 2013” re repaying a debt for energy resources.
The bill was adopted as a basis by 232 votes.
The people’s deputies from opposing factions gathered near the tribune during the report of the Chairman of the Committee on Taxation and Customs Policy V.Khomutynnik on the bill on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine re record keeping and registration of taxpayers.
The Presiding at the meeting asked whether the people’s deputies want to consider this bill and put to vote the suggestion to adopt the bill in the second reading and in entirety without consideration of amendments.
The bill was adopted by 239 bills in entirety.
The bill on amendments to the Land Code of Ukraine re cheapening the cost of work on preparation and holding of land auction was brought in for consideration.
Representatives of opposing factions continued staying next to the presidium and prevented representatives of the Committee from reporting.
The Presiding announced a break to hold consultations of faction leaders with the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.
After the break, the First Deputy Chairman of Ukraine I.Kalyetnik adjourned the morning session.
At the beginning of the evening session, that started half an hour later, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Volodymyr Rybak informed that faction leaders suggested start the meeting with the speeches of faction representatives.
Chairman of the Batkivshchyna faction A.Yatseniuk informed that opposing factions suggest include the draft law on prohibition of selective justice into the agenda and noted that they uphold the two bills suggested for inclusion by the Party of Regions.
A.Yatseniuk stated that “the Party of Regions has falsified amendment to the Tax Code, under which Vitaliy Klychko, leader of the UDAR faction, will be deprived of the right to stand for the post of the President of Ukraine”.
UDAR faction leader Vitaliy Klychko claimed that “despite of all dirty provocations, I am not afraid”. V.Klychko stated that he will stand to the post of the President of Ukraine.
The people’s deputy I.Brychenko argued against his authorship of amendment No 36 to the bill on amendments to the Tax Code.
The Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Rybak noted that according to the data, the people’s deputy I.Brychenko made amendment No 31 to the bill.
The Presiding at the meeting noted that due to the things occurring in the session hall, there was a suggestion from the session hall to vote for this bill in entirety. That is why the decision was taken and we need to continue working.
The Chairman of the Committee on Taxation and Customs Policy V.Khomutynnik told of preparation of the bill on amendments to the Tax Code of Ukraine re record keeping and registration of taxpayers.
V.Khomutynnik explained that the people’s deputy I.Brychenko made amendment No 31 to this very bill.
The Presiding noted that there are three bills pertaining to treatment of Yu.Tymoshenko abroad. He suggested include the draft laws registered under No. 3479, No. 3461, and No. 2453а into the agenda of the next plenary week.
The people’s deputies upheld the suggestion by 367 votes.
The draft law on amendments to several legislative acts of Ukraine re determining the structure, content and procedure of adjustment of land development documentation was reported by the Chairman of the Committee on Agrarian Policy and Land Relations Hryhoriy Kaletnik.
The bill was adopted as a basis by 252 votes.
The Verkhovna Rada adopted as a basis the draft law on basis of electricity market functioning in Ukraine.
Following the results of voting, the draft laws on amendments to the Tax Code and to the Law “On State Budget of Ukraine for 2013” were rejected.
The Chairman adjourned the evening session.
Next plenary meeting of the third session will be held on Friday, October 25.