Committees’ recent meetings – 17 May to 15 June 2022
A summary of Kurdistan Parliament's committees' work and meetings from 17 May to 15 June 2022:
Energy, Natural Resources, Commerce and Industry Committee
23 May 2022 – The committee discussed the problems with distribution of wheat flour to the public and decided to meet with the Commerce and Industry and Agriculture and Irrigation ministries to look further into this. They also discussed gas shortages and the high price of petrol.
24 May 2022 – The committee met with Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Begard Talabani at the Ministry and asked her to find a better mechanism for the farmers’ sale of their wheat (to the Government) and to ensure that the price of flour is affordable for the public.
6 June 2022 – The committee began preparing two reports, one on the problems and their recommendations on the oil, gas and electricity sectors, and another on rising food and daily goods prices, to submit to the presidency of Parliament so that the issues can be scheduled for deliberations at a sitting.
14 June 2022 - The committee decided to draft a detailed report on petrol, gas and kerosene and direct it to Parliament’s presidency for the necessary work.
Kurdistan Region needs more than five million litres of petrol daily, but only one million litres are produced domestically and a limited amount is imported from other parts of Iraq, which has led to a petrol crisis and higher prices.
The committee considered it important that the KRG should negotiate with the Iraqi government so that buyers can use Basra and Iraq generally as a transit point for imports of petrol and oil products, which would reduce transport costs.
On household kerosene, the committee considered it important that the KRG Ministry of Natural Resources, either alone or in coordination with Baghdad, make a vital and urgent plan to ensure that all citizens receive kerosene, of which 258 million litres is needed.
Regarding household cooking gas, the committee said that it is important to understand gas demand, to control it and ban any factories or businesses from selling it commercially. They discussed household gas demand in each governorate, particularly in Duhok where there are many IDPS and refugees which has increased demand in the province.
Legislative Committee
25 May 2022 – The committee worked on 18 legislative proposals and two draft resolutions.
8 June 2022 - The committee worked on the report for the second reading of the Legislative Proposal on Adoption of the Federal Law on Electronic signatures and Electronic Transactions (Law No. 78 of 2012) in Kurdistan Region.
14 June 2022 – The committee worked on the draft report by Parliament’s Tourism Committee on the Tourism Bill, so that it can be submitted to Parliament’s presidency to be scheduled for its second reading at a sitting.
The committee worked on the anti-domestic violence bill (the Bill on Combating Violence Against Women and Families), and on the Bill on the Treatment of Animals, to prepare them for their second readings.
Reconstruction and Investment Committee
31 May 2022 – The committee discussed the KRG Investment Board’s announcement that 20,000 housing units will be built in all the governorates of Kurdistan Region and allocated to the people on low incomes and renters.
The committee members stated their view: “Our committee will do all that we can to help all the social classes of our communities and to look closely into the implementation mechanism and details of this project. As such we have decided that our members will visit the Investment Board.”
The committee decided to ask the KRG Minister of Housing and Reconstruction, via the Council of Ministers, to attend a Parliament sitting to give information about the problems with highways, the failure to complete the Kalar-Slemani dual carriageway and some other projects.
8 June 2022 – The committee decided to prepare a report on highways, the failure to complete some road projects, and the construction of 20,000 housing units for the renters and people on low incomes. They will submit the report to Parliament’s Presidency so that it can be scheduled for deliberations at a sitting.
9 June 2022 – The committee met with Dr. Agrin Abdullah, the Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction’s director for road works who provided detailed explanations regarding roads, stressing that the ministry is making serious efforts to complete the unfinished projects and provide the best services to the citizens of Kurdistan Region.
14 June 2022 – The committee discussed asking the Minister of Reconstruction and Housing and the Chairman of the Investment Board to attend a Parliament sitting on road projects and housing units, in particular the stalling and suspension of road projects, and incomplete and substandard housing projects.
Municipalities, Communications, Transport and Tourism Committee
6 June 2022 – The committee decided to prepare a report on the problems with tracking of land usage, garbage and waste collection and waste companies' contracts, household water meters, summer water shortages, and protecting the gardens and greenery of the cities. They will submit the report to Parliament’s Presidency so that it can be put to deliberations at a sitting.
Finance and Economic Affairs Committee
13 June 2022 - The committee discussed their sub-committee’s final report on finding an appropriate mechanism for the distribution of pensioners' salaries, which they believe has not been satisfactory.
The meeting discussed the preparation of reports on issues raised in 12 Parliament letters, and decided to form sub-committees on them in order to discuss them at a Parliament sitting in the presence of the KRG Minister of Finance and Economy.
Health, Environment and Consumer Rights Committee
17 May 2022 – Lack of medicines and lack of funds for medical supplies and medicines were discussed and the committee decided to visit the Minister of Finance in the near future.
The sub-committee read their report on their findings of meetings with Erbil Emergency Heart Hospital and will send it to the KRG Health Ministry.
23 May 2022 – The committee met with Professor Michael Hughes, a specialist in cancer, kidney diseases and pathology, and presented him with an award to honour his training of Kurdistan’s medics.
1 June 2022 – The committee met to complete their comprehensive report on the quality of medicines and cost of private hospitals. The report is scheduled to be read at the next day’s Parliament sitting in the presence of the KRG Minister of Health.
6 June 2022 – The committee met on Speaker Rewaz Faiq’s recommendation to enrich their comprehensive report on poor quality, expired and illegally traded medicines and the high cost of private hospitals, which was read and deliberated on at the Parliament sitting of 2nd June in the presence of the KRG Health Minister. The MPs improved the report and will send it the KRG via Parliament’s Presidency.
The committee discussed some articles and provisions of the Bill on the Rights and Responsibilities of Healthcare Workers, to prepare their report for the second reading of the bill.
8 June 2022 – The committee appointed MP Bakhtiar Shukri to prepare a report on high market prices of food and daily necessities, so that the committee can work on it and submit to Parliament’s presidency.
The committee continued their discussions about the provisions of the Bill on the Rights and Responsibilities of Healthcare Workers, to prepare their report for the second reading of the bill.
13 June 2022 – The committee finalized their report for the second reading of the Bill on the Rights and Responsibilities of Healthcare Workers and submitted it to Parliament’s Presidency to schedule it at a sitting.
Parliament Affairs and Complaints Committee
17 May 2022 – The committee discussed Parliament problems with Chief of the Diwan of Parliament Mr. Ardalan Muhammad Sarspi, and the Deputy Chief Hiwa Nusraddin.
Peshmerga Committee
17 May 2022 – The committee replied to correspondence and formed a regular subcommittee to follow up on Peshmerga soldiers’ problems and demands.
7 June 2022 – The committee discussed the KRG Council of Minister’s recommendation to look into the formation of a joint force on all of Kurdistan Region’s border points to prevent violations and illegal actions. They will prepare a report on the issue to Parliament’s Presidency so that it can be scheduled for deliberations at a sitting.
The committee replied to correspondence.
Protection of Women’s Rights Committee
17 May 2022 - The committee decided to hold a meeting with the relevant government authorities and the Kurdistan Region Judicial Council to get their views on the first draft report on the Bill on Combating Violence against Women and Families.
6 June 2022 - Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq chaired a meeting of the committee with Deputy Prime Minister Qubad Talabani, Interior Minister Rebar Ahmad and other senior officials to discuss proposed amendments to the Law on Combating Violence against Women and Families, Law No. 8 of 2011.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker Hemin Hawrami, Dr. Vala Farid, Minister for Parliament Affairs, the High Council of Women’s Affairs, the Director General of the Directorate for Combating Violence against Women and Families, and representatives of the Judicial Council and of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs.
Deputy Prime Minister Talabani thanked the committee, the Ministry of Interior and other authorities for completing the proposal. Lanja Dizayee (KDP) the Chair of Parliament’s Women’s Rights Committee, summarized the steps of preparing the first draft report of the bill on the amendments.
Interior Minister Rebar Ahmad reaffirmed the support and coordination of the Government and his ministry on the bill for more than seven months.
It was decided that the Parliament committee will meet soon to discuss all the new suggestions and submit their final report to the Presidency and the Legislative Committee.
13 June 2022 - Speaker Dr. Rewaz Faiq, Speaker chaired the committee’s meeting to discuss previous comments and recommendations made on the draft first report of the Bill on Combating Violence against Women and Families.
It was unanimously decided to prepare the report today and submit it to the Speaker of the Parliament and the Legislative Affairs Committee for the necessary work.
Integrity Committee
17 May 2022 - The committee discussed: the Integrity Commission’s third report on implementation of the Reform Law; the current lack of funds and capital in the banks, delays in paying public employees’ salaries in Slemani governorate; and the financial situation in general. The committee decided to form a subcommittee to follow up.
30 – 31 May 2022 – The committee met with the General Directorate of Commercial Banks and the General Directorate of Accounting.
The committee was scheduled to visit Slemani the following week for the same purpose and also to look into the lack of funds in banks and the problems with paying salaries and expenses from the available revenues.
14 June 2022 – The committee decided to prepare a detailed report on their field visits looking into the economic situation and financial problems in the region in general.
The sub-committee recommended a visit to Erbil Heart Emergency Hospital in Erbil, and they raised several cases with relevant authorities.
The committee replied to correspondence.
Education, Higher Education and Scientific Research Committee
22 May 2022 – The committee met with members of the Task Force on Education from the ministries of education and higher education, to hear their suggestions and comments on the latest draft of the Education Bill so that they can be taken into account in the report that is being prepared for the bill’s second reading.
6 June 2022 – The committee met with officials from the KRG Council of Ministers including Dr. Vala Farid, Minister of Parliament Affairs and Karzan Karim, Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister, to discuss the Bill on the Board of Accreditation of Education and Higher Education Institutions and Programs in Kurdistan Region.
The KRG officials and the MPs exchanged views about how to establish an independent board to improve and assure the quality of academic institutions.
The committee pledged to work on the bill to prepare it for its second reading.
12 June 2022 – The committee worked on the report for the second reading of the Bill on the Board of Accreditation of Education and Higher Education Institutions and Programs in Kurdistan Region.
Relations and Kurdish Diaspora Committee
23 May 2022 - The committee read the termly reports from the KRG representations abroad and the KRG Department of Foreign Relations on their work, and stressed that the reports should no longer be submitted late. The committee asked the DFR for a meeting, via the Council of Ministers.
6 June 2022 – The committee discussed preparing a report on the migrants who went missing in the Aegean Sea and the cases of migrants on Europe’s borders, and presenting it to the presidency of Parliament so that the issues can be scheduled for deliberations at a sitting. The committee replied to correspondence.
14 June 2022 - The committee decided to compile a report on the hardship facing Kurdistani migrants in European countries and submit it to Parliament’s presidency for the necessary work.
Social Affairs and Human Rights Committee
8 June 2022 – The committee met with Mr. Yves Duval, the Head of Canada’s Embassy Office in Erbil. They informed him about their oversight of the KRG ministries and their coordination with relevant parties to issue and amend several laws and to comply with international laws, to better serve the people of the Kurdistan Region.
Mr. Duval explained Canada’s military cooperation in Iraq and assistance to refugees and IDPS in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region.
They agreed to coordinate their work on human rights and social affairs.
8 June 2022 – The committee visited Labour and Social Affairs Minister Kwestan Mohammad at the ministry who explained some of the problems that the ministry is facing. The committee pledged to follow up on the issues.
13 June 2022 – The committee decided to visit the general directorates of social care and development and of prisons at the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, and the labour unions of Erbil and Slemani.
They also decided that they should coordinate with other parliament committees and relevant government agencies to gather data on the problems of unemployment, increased cases of murder and burning of women, and financial entitlements for unmarried women and carers for persons with disabilities, and then send a report on these issues to Parliament’s presidency for the necessary work and follow-up.
The committee replied to correspondence.
14 June 2022 – The committee visited Slemani adults, women’s and juvenile reformatories and prisons.
The two prisons’ directors explained problems with medical services, staff shortages, monthly advances and lack of executive authority.
The committee called on the prisons to implement children’s rights and improve the juvenile justice system.
The committee met with the Director General of Security to raise certain cases and legal rights of prisoners and detainees and to highlight the problems in the prisons.
The director of security pledged to follow up on the cases.
The MPs also visited Tarqi Baqal’s relatives, who were seen in a video being physically abused by several police officers in Slemani Court. The MPs strongly condemned the violence by the policemen, who were later arrested. Tarqi Baqal was killed in 2018. His relatives were angered by a court’s decision to review the three killers’ sentences.
Culture, Civil Society, Sports and Youth Committee
24 May 2022 – The committee discussed:
- A letter from the Kurdistan Journalists Union calling for the formation of several committees to reform journalism in the Kurdistan Region.
- The lack of funding for public libraries in Slemani governorate. The committee’s vice-chair decided to look further into the issue.
The committee read and replied to correspondence.
31 May 2022 – In Duhok Governorate the committee went to the women’s and juveniles’ prison and to the adults’ prison and had discussions with their directors, staff and inmates.
They met with the Labour Union’s Duhok branch and discussed laws that pertain to workers’ rights specially the pension and retirement law, on which the Labour Union has presented its views and recommendations to the KRG Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs so that they can be submitted to Parliament.
The committee held two press conferences in Duhok.
8 June 2022 – The committee issued this condolence message:
We are very saddened to learn that today the famous Kurdish artist Faisal Osman died of heart disease, at the age of 66.
He was one of the talented and renowned Kurdish artists whose paintings were exhibited in numerous local, regional and international exhibitions. Faisal Osman was one of the most prominent painters at the local and international level who followed his own path and faithfully spent his life working with brushes and water colours.
We value Faisal Osman’s great artistic works and we convey our deepest sympathy to his family, friends and all artists. May his soul rest in peace.
8 June 2022 – The committee met with the heads of several local and international civil society groups and agreed on the need to pass a law on the regulation of electronic media, provided that it does not restrict freedom of expression and that it meets international standards.
They stressed the importance of cooperation and more meetings.
14 June 2022 - The committee met with Dr. Farangis Ghaderi, researcher and head of Kurdish digital archives at the University of Exeter, to discuss in detail archives in the Kurdistan Region.
The meeting also discussed the committee’s report on youth unemployment, in which they recommended that the KRG limit the employment of foreign workers.
The committee’s report highlights that of the 28,853 registered companies, 25,575 are local and 3,278 are foreign. The committee believes that at least 70 percent of job opportunities should be allocated only to locals.
Endowments and Religious Affairs Committee
22 May 2022 – The committee met wit Minister of Endowments and Religious Affairs Dr. Pishtiwan Sadiq, and discussed the role of clerics in promoting inter-religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence, and organizing Kurdistani citizens’ Hajj pilgrimage after two years of cancellation during the pandemic.
The committee also visited the Executive Office of the Kurdistan Islamic Scholars Union and met with the head Dr. Abdullah Saeed Waisi, deputy head Mullah Jalal Mustafa Khailani and discussed sermons and how to unify the Friday sermons.
25 May 2022 – The committee replied to correspondence and decided to form a subcommittee to monitor the organization and preparations for Kurdistan Region citizen’s Hajj pilgrimage.
5 June 2022 – The committee in Zaxo met with the newly appointed head of the Independent Administration, Guhdar Shekho, and visited the Zaxo branches of the Kurdistan Islamic Scholars Union and the Endowment Directorate.
They visited the Patriarch of Zaxo, the Syrian Church of Mary Al-Azra and the Hezli Cultural and Social Center.
6 June 2022 – The committee in Amedi district of Duhok Governorate met with the district’s head and the branches of the Kurdistan Islamic Scholars Union and the Endowments Directorate.
They discussed the role of clerics in raising awareness on important issues and emphasized the need to comply with the guidelines of the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, especially on Friday sermons, which have an influence on societal attitudes.
The MPs visited the Church of Mary Ezra of Kuani and met with Assyrian priests.
8 June 2022 – The committee met with Niyaz Ragheb Abdullah, Director General of Hajj and Umrah, and Isamaddin Younis, Deputy Director General of Hajj and Umrah, at the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs, to discuss the Hajj pilgrimage preparations for this year.
The Director General of Hajj and Umrah explained the ministry’s plans and stressed the importance of protecting the rights of Kurdistan’s pilgrims, within the framework of the decisions issued by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
"This year, according to the conditions and guidelines set by Saudi Arabia, the Hajj process will be conducted in a special way, which is by dividing places between the governorates and autonomous administrations of Kurdistan," he said.
He explained that Saudi Arabia has also set an age limit of 65 for participation in the Hajj.
He also mentioned the Coronavirus protocols that Saudi Arabia has set as part of the main conditions for this year's Hajj.
The Director General stressed that commercially organized Hajj pilgrimages are fake and asked that citizens not waste their money on them.
Regarding the duty of Hajj companies, he explained that there are several companies in the Kurdistan Region specialized in arranging outward and return travel for pilgrims, which have promised to serve all Kurdistan’s pilgrims. Any company found to be failing to meet this requirement will be penalized.
The participants made their comments and suggestions. The committee decided to directly monitor the Hajj arrangements through a special subcommittee.
The committee replied to correspondence.
Martyrs, Genocide and Political Prisoners Committee
31 May 2022 – The committee discussed the Law on the Rights and Privileges of the Families of Martyrs and replied to correspondence.
8 June 2022 - The committee discussed Parliament’s recommendations to several ministries that came out of the sittings of 16 March 2021 and 14 April 2021, on providing public services and better meeting the needs of martyrs, victims of chemical weapons, those with missing children and Anfal victims’ families in Halabja province, Garmian administration and Chamchamal town.
The committee also decided to meet with the general directorates of Martyrs and Anfal Affairs of Slemani, Halabja, Garmian and Chamchamal, and with the Ministry’s committee that is reviewing the list of former political prisoners, to look into the reasons for the slow pace of their work.
Committee on Kurdistani Areas outside KRG Administrative Area
5 June 2022 – The committee met with Rebwar Talabani, the former head of Kirkuk Provincial Council, and Parween Muhammadamin, a current member of the council. They discussed the recent decision by Kirkuk Court to arrest Mr. Talabani and several other members of the provincial council, which they said was politicized and unlawful. The committee pledged to do all they could to help them.
13 June 2022 – The committee decided to take action, following their meeting with Rebwar Talabani, the former head of Kirkuk Provincial Council, and Parween Muhammadamin, a current member of the council.
They discussed the situation in the Kurdistani areas outside the KRG administration, especially now that they are under an intense campaign of Arabization, and the committee decided to visit Khanaqin and its vicinities.
Agriculture and Irrigation Committee
14 June 2022 - The committee discussed the problem of waste of agricultural land in the Kurdistan Region and decided to send their report to Parliament’s Presidency in order to invite the Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources to discuss the issue.
They discussed livestock owners employing non-local shepherds and decided to follow up on this issue.
Interior, Security and Local Councils Committee
14 June 2022 - The committee discussed the new car number registration plates in Iraq and Kurdistan Region with: Interior Ministry Adviser Dr. Sami Jalal; Kurdistan Region’s Director General for Traffic Brigadier General Abdulqadir Aziz; Slemani Traffic Director Brigadier General Khoshawi Jamal Ahmed, , Erbil Traffic Director Brigadier Didar Qadir; and Duhok Traffic Director Brigadier Amid Ibrahim Agid
The MPs and traffic department directors discussed in detail the mechanism for issuing the new car license plates, which have changed from the Arabic alphabet and numerals to the Latin alphabet and numerals.
Joint committee meetings
Energy Committee with Consumer Committee
11 June 2022 – The two committees compiled a report on the rising prices of food, daily goods, fuel, gas and living necessities, as a basis for discussions scheduled for the next day, 12 June 2022, with the KRG Ministry of Trade and Industry.
Agriculture, Municipalities and Investment committees (three committees)
13 June 2022 – The three committees discussed and prepared a joint report on encroachment on public property.