Meeting with rapporteurs a welcome step, say MPs

Priorities Committee’s role not diminished: Khorshid

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 13: According to Members of the Parliament, the meeting arranged by the National Assembly Speaker Marzouq Al-Ghanim on Monday with rapporteurs of the permanent and temporary committees will be a step towards adopting more legislation, and these rapporteurs will determine the priority of the legislation that will be prepared for approval in the current term, reports Al-Rai daily.

They stressed that the legislative role of the parliamentary committees will result in proposals that will be presented in March, adding that they hope the government will present projects that will reflect positively in the economic, security, educational, social and sports fields.

In this regard, Chairman of the Parliament’s Financial Affairs Committee Saleh Khorshid said the meeting among the National Assembly Speaker, the National Assembly Bureau and the rapporteurs of the parliamentary committees is “a welcome step in the right direction”, insisting that the meeting does not diminish the role of the parliament’s Priorities Committee in prioritizing and coordinating the agenda.

He explained, “During the coordination meeting to be held next Monday, each committee will present its priorities. If a committee submits one or two proposals, we will have a very busy agenda in March, especially since the Parliament in the past has carried out the oversight role via interpellations submitted against His Highness the Prime Minister and some ministers. We must also study the legislative side. We hope the outcome of the meeting will be desirable”.

Projects

The MP called on the government to submit its projects, and move forward, as it did not initiate through its ministers to present projects that are beneficial for the public in the economic, security, social, educational and sports fields.

Meanwhile, Head of Parliament’s Education Committee MP Ouda AlRuwaie said the committee has priorities to be determined in the coming phase including preparing a draft law on public universities and supporting educational functions.

Also, Rapporteur of Parliament’s Health Committee MP Osama Al-Shaheen said they have proposals in the agenda concerning several aspects including the “mental health” law, which was approved during the first deliberation, and amendments to the law concerning public aid, adding that they will also prepare a bill concerning charitable work in the coming phase.

In addition, Chairman of the Parliament’s Human Resources Committee MP Khalil Al-Saleh indicated that he wishes the meeting of rapporteurs of the parliamentary committees scheduled to be held on Monday in the Parliament Office will lead to pushing the wheel of legislation forward and enacting laws that will play a role in serving citizens.