The Riigikogu held the last sitting of the Autumn Session
The Riigikogu passed five Acts and two Resolutions:
The Riigikogu passed with 76 votes in favour the Act on Amendments to § 192 of the Electronic Communications Act (784 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, Estonian People’s Union Faction and Estonian Reform Party Faction. The Electronic Communications Act enters into force on 1 January 2006.
The entry into force of 784 SE will create the conditions where the competitiveness on the electronic communications market would not be distorted in the course of transition to the process of determining undertakings (as enterprises) with remarkable market forces, pursuant to the Electronic Communications Act.
The Riigikogu passed with 75 votes in favour the Health Insurance Act Amendment Act (773 SE), initiated by the Social Affairs Committee. The Act shortens the waiting period for the formation of the health insurance cover of employees, public servants and sole proprietors and the procedure for forwarding the information necessary for the formation, suspension and dissolution of the insurance cover of sole proprietors.
The Riigikogu passed with 68 votes in favour the Social Benefits for Disabled Persons Act Amendments Act (783 SE), initiated by the Estonian Centre Party Faction, Estonian People’s Union Faction and Estonian Reform Party Faction. Upon entry into force of the Act the benefit to a child with moderate disability will increase by EEK 220 or to EEK 1,080 in a month, and to a child with severe and profound disability by EEK 240 or to EEK 1,260 in a month.
The Riigikogu passed with 73 votes in favour the Consumer Protection Act Amendment Act (756 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. Pursuant to the Act, the service providers must inform the consumers of the final selling price of services which includes value added tax act as well as other taxes and payments that a consumer must pay. For example the prices of plane tickets and ship’s letters must also include airport and port fees. If the exact selling price of a service cannot be determined beforehand, consumers must be informed of the components of the selling price of the service, of the tariffs being the basis of its calculation or of the bases of calculation in such a way that consumers could calculate the selling price of service with sufficient exactness.
The Riigikogu passed with 73 votes in favour the Courts Act, Bar Association Act and Other Acts Arising Therefrom Amendment Act (764 SE), initiated by the Government of the Republic. The Act enables the Estonian judges working in international courts, to return to the office of judge in Estonia, upon the expiry of the term of office. If a judge has no possibility to return to the office of a judge in Estonia and he/she does not want to transfer to work in another court, the salary of a judge and other relevant guarantees will be preserved for him/her for a year.
The Riigikogu passed with 70 votes in favour (2 abstentions) the Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Approval of the Development Plan for the Years 2006-2008 of the Estonian Television and Estonian Radio (785 OE), submitted by the Cultural Affairs Committee. The Act takes into account that the National Broadcasting Act will be passed in 2006, on the basis of which the preparations will be started for the formation of a new organisation – the Estonian National Broadcasting. The prerequisite for the merger of the Estonian Radio and Estonian Television is the completion of the National Broadcasting building, which will ensure the extensive and substantial integration of the two organisations. According to the development plan, the new building must be completed by the end of 2008.
The Riigikogu passed with 57 votes in favour (5 against, 4 abstentions) the Resolution of the Riigikogu On Amendments to the Resolution of the Riigikogu On the Formation of the Committee of Investigation for Ascertaining the Circumstances related to the Export of Military Equipment from the Territory of the Republic of Estonia in 1994 (794 OE), initiated by the Isamaaliit Faction, Estonian Centre Party Faction and Estonian People’s Union Faction. Pursuant to the Resolution, the activities of the Committee of Investigation for Ascertaining the circumstances related to the Export of Military Equipment on the Ferry Estonia will be extended up to 1 July 2996.
***
The Riigikogu was visited by Father Christmas who, in honour of the upcoming Presidentary elections presented the people’s representatives with President’s coffee and pilsner, and eye patches to start training for the blind election. Father Christmas wished that the Riigikogu would do everything in its power to increase the people’s trust in the state and that this would make the next year happier and more children would be born.
The Riigikogu Press Service
15 December 2005