Prime Minister Andrus Ansip replied to the interpellation (No. 198) concerning the fulfilment of the Government’s work schedule, submitted on 13 February by Member of the Riigikogu Urmas Reinsalu. The submitter of the interpellation criticized the Government for its insufficient legislative drafting.

Prime Minister explained that the Government had worked well. The supervision over the fulfilment of the work schedule is constant, in the same way as the supervision over the fulfilment of the coalition agreement is. Once in every three months we present an interim report and fix new terms, and hear the current problems,” Mr. Ansip said. Some objectives lose their actuality or the problems turn out to be less serious. These will probably never be fulfilled. “I cannot see any reason for the Government to cling to all those items which the Government itself has introduced into the work schedule, especially in the case of the work schedule drafted directly after the formation of the Government,” Prime Minister justified. The schedule has previously also been too optimistic.

“The state of Estonia will never be completed, no more than the city of Tallinn will,” Mr. Ansip made a comparison. “Surely, we must all admit that the need to make amendments to a new Act is gradually decreasing, because the majority of the fields of activity have already been covered in regulations. In future the deliberation of development plans certainly should be more to the point. Its form – deliberation with full participation or further inclusion of committees – it is subject to discussion,” Mr. Ansip said. “In my opinion the European Union Affairs Committee is very directly connected with the elaboration of the state’s positions. It is an immediate process. These positions cannot be formed without this Committee,” Prime Minister stressed. Mr. Ansip thought that in case of development plans concerning specific spheres, the relevant Committee of the Riigikogu should also take part in their preparation. Mr. Ansip stated that the relevance of legislation measured in numbers would decrease. It decreased during the rule of the previous Government, it decreases during the rule of this Government and will also decrease during the rule of the next Government.

Prime Minister also replied to the interpellation (No. 197) concerning the publication of unverified information, submitted on 13 February by Member of the Riigikogu Mihhail Lotman, to the interpellation (No. 203) concerning the wages of state employees, submitted on 20 February by Members of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor, Jarno Laur and Kadi Pärnits, and to the interpellation (No. 204) concerning the erection of the Victory Monument of the War of Independence on the Vabaduse Square in Tallinn, submitted on 20 February by Members of the Riigikogu Urmas Reinsalu, Trivimi Velliste, Katrin Saks, Imre Soooäär, Juhan Parts, Peeter Tulviste, Aivar Õun, Ken-Marti Vaher, Indrek Raudne, Jarno Laur, Mart Nutt, Mart Laar and Tiit Niilo.

Minister of Social Affairs Jaak Aab replied to the interpellation (No. 195) concerning the occupational accident and occupational disease insurance, submitted on 9 February by Members of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor and Kadi Pärnits.

Minister of Internal Affairs Kalle Laanet replied to the interpellation (No. 196) concerning the oil pollution in Northeast Estonia, submitted on 9 February by Members of the Riigikogu Andres Herkel, Tõnis Lukas, Mart Nutt and Mart Laar.

The sitting ended at 6.22 p.m.

The Riigikogu Press Service