Sittings & Legislation News

The Presidency of the Kurdistan Parliament announces the order of business for the sitting of Wednesday 23rd October at 11am - the fifth sitting of the autumn session of the first year of the Kurdistan Parliament’s fifth term.

The Kurdistan Parliament on 15 October held a sitting to call for an immediate halt to the military attacks on Rojava, Western Kurdistan. The head of each parliamentary block asked that the military attacks stop immediately and all were deeply concerned for civilians, the humanitarian situation, the threat to security and stability, and the revival of ISIS and other terrorist groups. Speaker Dr. Rewas Faiq read the 12 recommendations agreed by the parliamentary blocks, which were passed by an overwhelming majority of MPs, 96 out of 97 present. 

Kurdistan Parliament’s Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq on 14 October chaired a meeting of the heads of the parliamentary blocks to prepare for the sitting the next day on Turkey’s military attacks on Rojava, Western Kurdistan and the resulting civilian lives lost and the humanitarian crisis. 

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr. Rewas Faiq on 14 October supervised a meeting of the Legal Affairs Committee to discuss preparations for the second reading of the bill which grants the right of ownership to those citizens who took or used land illegally and built houses on them.

The Presidency of the Kurdistan Parliament announces the order of business for the sitting of Tuesday 15th October at 11am: The parties in the Kurdistan Parliament will give their views and observations on the current situation and events in Rojava (Western Kurdistan).

Charmo public University of Chamchamal and the Higher Education Committee discussed the benefits and drawbacks of implementing the Bologna Process. The Higher Education committee also decided to meet the ministry to look into Nur, Hadba and Kitab private universities in Kurdistani areas outside the KRG administrative area, which are not yet recognized by the Kurdistan Regional Government. 

Kurdistan Parliament's energy committee had a meeting to work on the bill to adopt Iraqi Law No. 9 of 2006 on the import and sale of petroleum products. The health committee met Erbil International Airport officials to discuss the problems with the process and quality control of importing medicines. 

Parliament's committees this week met with Ibrahim Khalil customs and quality control officials; decided to submit a report to Parliament's Presidency on the problems in healthcare seen on fact-finding visits to Duhok, Koya and Erbil; met with workers' representatives of the Communist Party; and visited social care departments in Koya. They also pledged to seek help for families of Kurdish Syrian forces killed fighting alongside the Peshmerga in the war against ISIS.   

Kurdistan Parliament Speaker Dr Rewas Faiq on 29 September chaired the sitting at which MPs voted on first amendments to Parliament’s Internal Rules of Procedure. Some of the key changes that MPs approved by majority votes were to increase the number of standing committees from 15 to 19, so that MPs can be more focused in their committee work and aims. Women’s rights will now have a dedicated committee. Another major change was to allow MPs to keep their parliamentary seat in the event that they leave their party. MPs also voted in favour of stipulating that at least one member of Parliament's Presidency Board must be a woman.

Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Begard Talabani explained to the agriculture committee the ministry's plans to reorganise and unify Kurdistan's fruit markets and improve marketing of farmers' products. Minister Talabani suggested draft legislation to help the sector. MPs from the energy and finance committees went to Baghdad to meet with the Iraqi Council of Representatives' Petroleum and Energy Committee.