Committees' recent meetings - 18 February 2020
Finance Committee works on Bill on Sale and Lease of Public Assets
17 February - The Finance Committee discussed the Bill on Sale and Lease of Public Assets in the Kurdistan Region – Iraq, which would replace Law No. 32 of 1986 and has the aim of protecting public and government assets. The committee has been working on the bill for two months.
The MPs decided to meet with the Minister of Justice and the General Director of Taxation regarding the bill.
The committee, led by the chair Mr. Ziyad Jabbar (PUK), also discussed all the notes and requests directed to them. The MPs set up a mechanism to reply to the public’s questions and complaints.
Legislative Committee discusses several bills
17 February - The Legislative Committee, led by the chair Mr. Bizhar Kocher (KDP), discussed seven bills, including a bill on institutionalization of the military forces in Kurdistan Region, on the development of cultural activities by Kurdistan’s religious and ethnic components, and on combatting prostitution.
There also discussed bills on the years of service and pensions of internal forces, amendments to laws on taxation and consumer rights, and amendments to the law on the fund for the return of money from Iraq to Kurdistan Region.
Education, Higher Education, and Scientific Research Committee meet Higher Education Minister
17 February- The committee, led by the chair Mr. Abdusalam Dolamari (KDP), met with Dr. Aram Muhammad the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The MPs questioned the minister on a number of topics, including the ministry’s decision to reduce tuition fees at private universities, how to give promotions to academics, and the delay in the government deciding whether to equalize (recognize) degrees from the private universities of Kitab, Qalam, Nur and Hadba, which were opened in Kurdistani areas outside the KRG administrative area.
The Minister and his staff gave explanations on the issues raised and provided the committee with the necessary documentation, stressing that they would pursue the problems as soon as possible.
Later Mr. Dolamari and Minister Muhammad gave a press conference about their meeting.
Legislative Committee and Social Affairs and Human Rights Committee discuss cancellation of conditional release
17 February - The two committees held a joint meeting. They discussed the decision to cancel conditional release for prisoners in Erbil’s and Slemani’s offender rehabilitation centres.
The Social Affairs and Human Rights Committee had met with prisoners and heard their concerns about the decision.
The two committees decided to call the Kurdistan Independent Human Rights Commission to their future meetings so that Parliament can look into taking legal action against the decision to stop the conditional release.
Health, Environment and Consumer Rights Committee visit hospitals
17 February - The committee, led by the chair Dr. Sabah Zebari (KDP), visited the Raparin Children’s Hospital and Erbil Maternity Hospital, both in Erbil.
The management, staff and several physicians at Raparin Children’s said that more staff and treatments are needed. The MPs promised to follow up on the deficiencies and problems.
At Erbil Maternity Hospital, the staff recommended that other towns in Erbil governorate have their own maternity hospitals, to take some of the workload from their hospital. They also demanded more medical equipment.