The alternate member Silver Meikar took the oath of office before the Riigikogu.

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Acts Associated with Official Publications Ametlikud Teadaanded (997 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The initiation of the Bill is necessary because from 1 January 2007 the issue of official publications will be organised by the Centre of Registers and Infosystems – an institution in the area of government of the Minister of Justice. The main reason for the transfer of the issue of official publications from the State Chancellery is the fact that the majority of publications – court, registration, enforcement notices etc. – come from the area of administration of the Ministry of Justice. The amendment to the Act enables, in addition to the information technological modernisation of publications, also enables to link it to the information systems of the registers of courts, as well as to the information system of courts and bailiffs. The Bill was sent to the third reading which is to take place on Thursday, 23 November.

The Riigikogu concluded the second reading of the Bill on Amendments to the Courts Act (983 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The purpose of the Bill is to make the process for the appointment of lay judges more flexible and to stipulate a new procedure for the remuneration of judges. Pursuant to the Bill, the amount of remuneration and the procedure for the payment to the lay judges will be established by the regulation of the Minister of Justice.

The Riigikogu rejected at the first reading the Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Formation of the Riigikogu Committee of Investigation of Land Exchange Deals (1021 OE), submitted by the Res Publica Faction and Isamaaliit Faction. The motion to reject the Bill was made by the Estonian People’s Union Faction. The result of voting: 48 votes in favour, 25 against. The Bill was withdrawn from legislative proceeding.

The Riigikogu Press Service