At Question Time ministers answered the questions of the members of the Riigikogu.

 

Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Andrus Ansip answered the question of Jarno Laur about ferry traffic, the question of Helir-Valdor Seeder about the AS Eesti Energia, the question of Mark Soosaar about the ship and air service of the Estonian small islands in the Gulf of Riga and the question of Ain Seppik about the situation of the Port of Tallinn.

 

Minister of Social Affairs Marko Pomerants answered the question of Marika Tuus about ambulatory care, the question of Ivari Padar about the financing of health, the question of Tõnis Lukas about drug addiction and the question of Eiki Nestor about transport benefits of the health insurance.

 

Minister of Culture Urmas Paet answered the question of Vilja Savisaar about St. Nicholas Church, the question of Evelyn Sepp about Tallinn Song Festival Grounds and the question of Trivimi Velliste about the financing of heritage conservation.

 

The Riigikogu passed the following Acts:

 

The European Parliament Election Act Amendment Act (433 SE), initiated by the European Union Affairs Committee, was passed with 71 votes in favour. The Act provides that a member of the European Parliament will get a salary equal to the salary of the Member of the Riigikogu paid from the state budget through the Chancellery of the Riigikogu.   No benefits are paid to a member of the European Parliament from the state budget of Estonia. The salary is paid since July 20, 2004.

                                     

The Anti-corruption Act and Wages Act Amendment Act (98 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 67 votes in favour.   The Act specifies the conditions of and procedure for the public disclosure of the wage data of officials. The wage data of the officials in the previous year will be publicized on April 1 at the latest.

                                   

The Act on the Ratification of the Convention concerning Minimum Standards in Merchant Ships and Protocol Thereto (418 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 48 votes in favour. The ratification of the Convention 147 and the Protocol is important for the state of Estonia, because it is the precondition to granting the full membership of the Paris Memorandum (Memorandum of Understanding, hence ?Paris MOU?). The Paris MOU is an agreement between such maritime administrations of the states, who have full powers to represent the state. The Paris MOU is the organisation of state port control, with the help of which the Member States, acceded to the agreement, through their maritime administrations participate in the standardized control of foreign ships. The exchange and communication of information and the selection of ships for the inspection base on the Paris MOU information system SIRENAC, the access to which is granted only to full and associated members, whereby the data entered by the latter are only partially taken into account.

 

The Act on the Accession to the Partial Agreement Setting up the European Support Fund for the Co-Production and Distribution of Creative Cinematographic and Audiovisual Works ?Eurimages? (408 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic, was passed with 48 votes in favour. The Act prescribes the accession to the Support Fund. The Support Fund has two objectives: first ? cultural ? to support films and audiovisual works reflecting the European cultural diversity; second ? economical ? through supporting the artistic creativity the Fund invests in the industry that is acting in cooperation with the trends of the market. The Support Fund has three programmes ? the aid for co-production of films, the aid for the distribution of films and the aid for cinemas.

 

The Riigikogu suspended the second reading of the following Bill:

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Vocational Educational Institutions Act, Republic of Estonia Education Act and Private Schools Act (378 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

 

The Riigikogu concluded the first reading of the following Bills:

 

The Bill on the Ratification of the Amendment to the Agreement Establishing the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (432 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

 

The Supplementary State Budget of the Year 2004 Bill (444 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Isamaaliit Faction moved to reject the Bill. The results of voting: 23 votes in favour, 48 against. The motion was not supported. The Bill remained in the legislative proceeding.

 

The Bill on the Denunciation of the Convention on Fishing and Conservation of the Living Resources in the Baltic Sea and Belts (441 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

 

The Personal Names Bill (369 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

 

The Bill on Amendments to the International Military Cooperation Act and to Other Acts (430 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

                       

The Bill on the Accession to the Agreement between the Parties to the North Atlantic Treaty Regarding the Status of Their Forces and to the Protocol on the Status of International Military Headquarters Set up pursuant to the North Atlantic Treaty (436 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

 

The Bill on the Accession to the Agreement on the Status of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, National Representatives and International Staff (437 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

 

The Blood Bill (417 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (383 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

 

The Bill on Amendments to the Law of Obligations Act (429 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

 

The Bill on the Implementation of the European Union Council Regulation (EC) No 2157/2001 on the Statute for a European Company (SE) (431 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic.

 

 

The sitting ended at 18.55.

 

The Riigikogu Press Service

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