The Minister of Regional Affairs Siim Valmar Kiisler replied to the interpellation concerning regional programmes (No 386), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Kalev Kotkas, Kalvi Kõva, Eiki Nestor, Heljo Pikhof, Indrek Saar, Mark Soosaar, Hannes Rumm and Jüri Tamm on 17 February, one of which is the measure for increasing regional competitiveness in order to develop the development of enterprise and visiting centres.

 

Kiisler admitted that receiving of applications had been suspended in 2009. According to the Minister’s explanations, the total amount of the applications had exceeded the budgets provided for projects. “This measure worked in full flow for two years,” noted Kiisler. In his words, the resources were not withheld. The reason for suspension was that the application amounts were exhausted.

 

Kiisler announced that, on 2 September 2009, reception of applications for application for projects developing the local business environment and infrastructure had been re-opened. “We had to re-suspend this application on 14 January this year because, again, it so happened that applications totalled to the amount of 315 million kroons but the budget amounted to no more than 200 million kroons,” said the Minister.

 

Kiisler confirmed that Enterprise Estonia would review the submitted applications and make a decision. If additional means are released, then an additional application round will be announced. “By the end of March, we had the amount of 918 million kroons of this measure covered with decisions. Of that, the amount of 100 million kroons is covered by the business environment projects and the amount of 818 million kroons is covered by the visiting environment projects,” Kiisler gave an overview of the state of affairs. He found that, on the one hand, we can be glad about the great number of the visiting environment projects but, on the other hand, it is the inability to support the business environment with sufficient speed that has been a problem. Payments have already been made in the amount of 358 million kroons and, additionally, eleven projects in the amount of 234 million kroons are being processed. In the Minster’s words, steps have been taken to find solutions to the situation in order to improve the financing of regional programmes.

 

The Minister of Regional Affairs replied to the interpellation concerning the situation of regional employment (No 385), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Ester Tuiksoo, Karel Rüütli, Mai Treial, Villu Reiljan and Tarmo Mänd on 17 February.

 

The Minister of Finance Jürgen Ligi replied to two interpellations: the interpellation concerning calculation of PPP projects (No 387), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Helle Kalda, Inara Luigas, Kadri Simson, Olga Sõtnik, Kalev Kallo, Vladimir Velman, Jüri Ratas, Enn Eesmaa and Lauri Laasi on 17 February, and the interpellation concerning approving of loans taken by local governments (No 389), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Inara Luigas, Toomas Varek, Kalev Kallo, Kalle Laanet, Kadri Simson, Valeri Korb, Nelli Privalova, Tiit Kuusmik, Helle Kalda, Jaak Aab, Georg Pelisaar and Ain Seppik on 18 February.

 

The Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts replied to three interpellations: the interpellation concerning the loan scheme of Port of Tallinn (No 379), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Kalev Kallo, Olga Sõtnik, Nikolai Põdramägi, Vladimir Velman, Kalle Laanet, Enn Eesmaa, Inara Luigas, Mailis Reps, Lauri Laasi, Georg Pelisaar, Toomas Varek, Valeri Korb, Aivar Riisalu, Kadri Simson and Evelyn Sepp on 15 February, the interpellation concerning preparation of a marine development plan and performance of international maritime duties (No 380), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Kalev Kallo, Toivo Tootsen, Arvo Sarapuu, Nikolai Põdramägi, Rein Ratas, Aivar Riisalu, Lembit Kaljuvee, Valeri Korb, Mailis Reps, Enn Eesmaa, Kalle Laanet, Eldar Efendijev, Vladimir Velman, Jüri Ratas and Olga Sõtnik on 16 February, and the interpellation concerning energy (No 391), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Lembit Kaljuvee, Lauri Laasi, Nikolai Põdramägi, Valeri Korb, Toomas Varek, Kadri Simson, Kalev Kallo and Tiit Kuusmik on 23 February.

 

The Minister of Justice Rein Lang replied to four interpellations. They were the following: the interpellation concerning the legal disorder with family physicians’ visit fees (No 382), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Vladimir Velman, Marika Tuus, Tiit Kuusmik, Lauri Laasi, Olga Sõtnik, Nikolai Põdramägi, Aivar Riisalu, Heimar Lenk, Valeri Korb, Inara Luigas, Enn Eesmaa, Eldar Efendijev and Nelli Privalova on 17 February; the interpellation concerning the activities of bailiffs (No 384), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Tiit Kuusmik, Lembit Kaljuvee, Nikolai Põdramägi, Valeri Korb, Georg Pelisaar, Mailis Reps, Lauri Laasi, Enn Eesmaa, Kalle Laanet, Eldar Efendijev, Vladimir Velman, Toivo Tootsen, Arvo Sarapuu, Rein Ratas, Evelyn Sepp, Ain Seppik and Marika Tuus on 17 February; the interpellation concerning a claim against VEB Fund (No 392), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Lauri Laasi, Kalev Kallo, Kalle Laanet and Olga Sõtnik on 25 February; the interpellation concerning termination of compensation of study loans (No 416), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Lauri Laasi, Tiit Kuusmik, Georg Pelisaar, Inara Luigas, Kadri Simson, Vladimir Velman and Olga Sõtnik on 23 March.

 

The Minister of the Environment Jaanus Tamkivi replied to two interpellations: the interpellation concerning overfishing of Baltic herring (No 393), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Kalle Laanet, Lauri Laasi, Aivar Riisalu, Nikolai Põdramägi and Toomas Varek on 25 February, and the interpellation concerning the activities of the State Forest Management Centre in protection of public interest and organisation of public procurements (No 401), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Tiit Kuusmik, Valeri Korb, Georg Pelisaar, Inara Luigas, Eldar Efendijev, Nelli Privalova, Vladimir Velman, Toivo Tootsen, Arvo Sarapuu, Nikolai Põdramägi and Ain Seppik on 10 March.

 

The Minister of Agriculture Helir-Valdor Seeder replied to two interpellations: the interpellation concerning Audru fish farm and creation of new jobs in fishery (No 398), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Karel Rüütli, Ester Tuiksoo, Villu Reiljan, Tarmo Mänd and Jaanus Marrandi on 9 March, and the interpellation concerning sustainability of dairy sector (No 400), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Arvo Sarapuu, Toivo Tootsen, Ain Seppik, Eldar Efendijev, Kalle Laanet, Enn Eesmaa, Inara Luigas, Georg Pelisaar, Toomas Varek, Valeri Korb, Lembit Kaljuvee and Jaak Aab on 10 March.

 

The Minister of Culture Laine Jänes replied to four interpellations. They were the following: the interpellation concerning lay-off of media workers (No 381), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Mailis Reps, Marika Tuus, Nikolai Põdramägi and Valeri Korb on 16 February; the interpellation concerning financing of the Estonian National Opera (No 394), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Enn Eesmaa, Kadri Simson, Lauri Laasi, Tiit Kuusmik, Georg Pelisaar and Nikolai Põdramägi on 8 March; the interpellation concerning the bases and objectives of state financing of sports (No 395), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Evelyn Sepp, Jüri Tamm, Villu Reiljan, Kalev Kallo, Kalle Laanet and Peeter Kreitzberg on 8 March; the interpellation concerning covering of the anniversary of the Republic in the National Broadcasting (No 396), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Georg Pelisaar, Lauri Laasi, Enn Eesmaa, Toivo Tootsen, Tiit Kuusmik, Lembit Kaljuvee, Valeri Korb, Heimar Lenk, Kalev Kallo, Marika Tuus and Nikolai Põdramägi on 8 March.

 

The interpellators withdrew the interpellation concerning the reform concerning the forming of a joint museum (No 390), submitted by Members of the Riigikogu Eldar Efendijev, Enn Eesmaa, Aivar Riisalu, Ain Seppik, Nikolai Põdramägi, Mailis Reps, Tiit Kuusmik and Lembit Kaljuvee on 22 February.

 

On the motion of the relevant leading committees, the following Bills initiated by the Government will not be deliberated at the second reading at Wednesday’s sitting: the Riigi Teataja Bill (654 SE); the Fire Safety Bill (513 SE); the Rescue Bill (514 SE).

 

The sitting ended at 10.28 p.m.

 

The Riigikogu Press Service