The Riigikogu passed an Act and concluded the first reading of a Bill and heard replies to two interpellations.

The Riigikogu passed one Act

The Act on Amendments to the National Library of Estonia Act and the Copyright Act (559 SE), initiated by the Government, transfers the tasks of the Repository Library of Estonia to the National Library of Estonia. As the responsibilities of the Repository Library are similar and partially overlap those of the National Library, its activities as a separate state agency will be terminated. The merger of the services will create preconditions for a user-centred innovation and coherent development of the services and will reduce the fragmentation of the library service.

The amendment will help improve the access of people with a visual impairment or any other print disability to publications and digital information, which is currently hindered due to the separation of services.

The new renovated building of the National Library is also planned to have premises necessary for the library for the blind, and better accessibility. The physical merger of the libraries is not likely to take place before 2025, when the renovation of the building of the National Library is due to be completed.

In the future, the repository and exchange stock of the Repository Library will be transferred to the planned Repository Archive, and the services of the library for the blind will begin to be provided in the renovated premises of the National Library in Tõnismäe (a city region in Tallinn).

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

A Bill passed the first reading

The Bill on Amendments to the Family Benefits Act (560 SE), initiated by the Social Democratic Party Faction and Raimond Kaljulaid, provides for raising the child allowance for the first and each subsequent child of the family to 100 euro per month to improve the livelihood of families with children. Under the current Act, the amount of the child allowance for the first and second child of the family is 60 euro. The amount of the child allowance for the third and subsequent child is 100 euro. According to an amendment proposed in the Bill, the allowance for the first and second child will also be raised to 100 euro per month.

At today’s sitting, Tõnis Mölder (Centre Party) took the floor during the debate.

The Riigikogu heard replies to two interpellations

Minister of Finance Keit Pentus-Rosimannus replied to the interpellation concerning loan debtors, and Minister of Education and Research Liina Kersna replied to the interpellation concerning the funding of vocational education, submitted by members of the Riigikogu.

During the open microphone, Peeter Ernits took the floor.

Verbatim record of the sitting (in Estonian)

Video recordings of the sittings of the Riigikogu can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/riigikogu.
(Please note that the recording will be uploaded with a delay.)

Riigikogu Press Service 
Gunnar Paal,
+372 631 6351, +372 5190 2837
[email protected]
Questions: [email protected]