The Riigikogu passed with 73 votes in favour the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Making a Proposal to the Government of the Republic to Launch Activities Related to Pension Reform for Improving Public Health” (720 OE), initiated by the Estonian Green Party Faction. According to the proposal, the Government should report to the Riigikogu, by October 2010, on the activities in the framework of the population health development plan aimed at extending the life expectancy and increase the number of years lived in good health, in connection with the pension reform. A recommendation was also made to involve representatives of Riigikogu factions and interest groups, as well as specialists from outside the government sector, more particularly local health promoters from all over the country, into planning the activities of the population health development plan in the upcoming years.

 

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Waste Act, the Earth’s Crust Act and the Environmental Charges Act (700 SE) will implement the European Union directive that establishes minimum requirements for avoiding or reducing the adverse effects related to the handling of mining industry waste. The Bill improves the opportunities of the state to check the handling of mining waste. The Bill influences the business environment, making the activities that lead to mining waste to a certain extent more complicated and costly.

 

The majority of the motions to amend the Traffic Bill (475 SE), for the benefit of continuing the second reading, concerned provisions regulating bicycle traffic. The amendment would allow up to two persons accompanying a cyclist below the age of 13 or a cyclist carrying a child in a child seat onto sidewalk or footpath. A cyclist may also ride on the sidewalk if the state of the road makes it difficult to ride on the road, but they may not exceed the average walking speed of a pedestrian, i.e. 5 km per hour.

 

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Local Taxes Act (774 SE), initiated by the Estonian Reform Party Faction and the Pro Patria and Res Publica Union Faction, should erase sales tax and boat tax from the list of taxes applied by local governments.

 

Draft Resolution of the Riigikogu On Amendments to the Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Formation of the State Budget Control Committee of the Riigikogu (771 OE), submitted by the Estonian People’s Party Faction, should replace the member of the Committee Jaan Õunapuu with Tarmo Mänd.

 

Due to the end of the working hours of the sitting, the first reading of the Bill on Amendments to § 5 of the Income Tax Act (734 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre PartyFaction, was adjourned. The reading will be resumed at tomorrow’s sitting.

 

The sitting ended at 1.05 p.m.

 

The Riigikogu Press Service