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Today, the Riigikogu passed an Act that would authorise the Government to introduce the obligation to provide information about the technology used in communication networks in order to ensure a high level of security in communication networks.

The explanatory memorandum of the Act on Amendments to the Electronic Communications Act (138 SE), initiated by the National Defence Committee, says that with a view to ensure the quality of networks, minimise the impact of cyber-attacks, and prevent political manipulations, it must be ensured that the establishment of communication networks and the provision of communications services by means thereof is effected with the help of secure technology and by reliable partners. Under the Act and in order to ensure national security, the Government may compel, by a regulation, communications undertakings to provide information about the hardware and software used in their communications networks and to apply for an authorisation to use the hardware and software of a network.

During the second reading, an amendment based on the opinion of the Government was introduced into the Bill. The coordination procedure was replaced by the notification and authorisation procedure, and the Act was complemented with a provision authorising the Government to compel, by a regulation, communications undertakings to provide information about the hardware and software used in their communications networks and to apply for an authorisation to use the hardware and software of a network.

Kristen Michal (Reform Party) took the floor during the debate.

83 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of the Act, and 4 against it.

The Riigikogu passed one other Act

The Act on Amendments to the Radiation Act and the State Fees Act (144 SE), initiated by the Government, specifies provisions of the Radiation Act to bring these into conformity with the Euratom directive and the proposals of the audit of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

As a major amendment, holders of radiation practice licences must submit to the Environmental Board analyses of events in the course of which persons were exposed to radiation doses above the permitted level. At present, the Board must only be notified of the occurrences of such incidents.

The Act was amended by including the procedure for the recognition of radiation practice licences issued in the contracting parties to the European Economic Area. So far, the Environmental Board was guided by agreements on the free movement of services and the General Part of the Economic Activities Code Act in the recognition of foreign undertakings but the Environmental Inspectorate is in no position to check the radiation practices of these undertakings at present. The recognitions will be issued by letter through a document management system.

The European Union Euratom directive laying down the basic safety standards for protection against the dangers arising from exposure to ionising radiation was due to be transposed by 6 February 2018. The analysis of the articles and the transposed provisions of the directive revealed the need to specify the Act in order to avoid possible different interpretation.

88 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Act.

The Riigikogu passed one Resolution

The Resolution of the Riigikogu “Amendment of the Resolution of the Riigikogu “Formation of the Estonian Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europeˮ” (160 OE), initiated by the Foreign Affairs Committee, appoints Raimond Kaljulaid as substitute member of the Estonian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, replacing Indrek Saar. The motion for substitution came from the Social Democratic Party faction.

57 members of the Riigikogu voted in favour of passing the Resolution, 18 against it, and 4 abstained.

One Bill passed the second reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Riigikogu Rules of Procedure and Internal Rules Act (176 SE), initiated by the Constitutional Committee, provides the possibility to conduct sittings by remote attendance with the members of the Riigikogu and other participants of the sitting attending the sitting via electronic means without being physically present. A sitting may be held with remote attendance if the members of the Riigikogu are ensured the possibility to follow the sitting and carry out the proceedings of the sitting (submitting a Bill, presenting a report, asking an oral question, making comments, protesting, voting, and other activities) from a remote location, and also have the possibility to report any impediments to performing such activities.

Holding of a sitting with remote attendance is decided by the Board of the Riigikogu if there are strong reasons for it. At sittings with remote attendance, the Riigikogu has a quorum if more than one half of the members of the Riigikogu attend. The President of the Riigikogu notifies the members of the Riigikogu of holding a sitting with remote attendance through the media at least three days before the appointed date. Shorter notice is allowed in case of compelling reasons.

The original version of the Bill required the quorum to be as high as at additional and extraordinary sittings of the Riigikogu. An amendment between two readings of the Bill ensured that the higher quorum requirement would not be applied.

Tarmo Kruusimäe (Isamaa) took the floor during the debate.

One Bill passed the first reading

The Act on Amendment to the Police and Border Guard Act (161 SE), initiated by the Legal Affairs Committee, requires ensuring that police officers and border guard officials as well as their family members who are beneficiaries of disability or survivor’s pensions receive a pension that is at minimum equal to what they would have received if the bases for calculating their pensions had not been reduced by 8 % as of 1 July 2009.

The Bill was occasioned by the need to ensure equal treatment to the beneficiaries of both the superannuated pensions of police officers as well as the beneficiaries of the disability or survivor’s pensions of police officers or border guard officials.

Verbatim record of the sitting.

The video recording can be viewed later on the Riigikogu YouTube channel.

(Please note that the recording will by uploaded with a delay).

Riigikogu Press Service
Veiko Pesur
Tel 631 6353, 55 590 595
e-mail [email protected]
Questions [email protected]

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