FNC to set up ad-hoc panels, review laws

Mohammed to open third ordinary session on Monday

abu dhabi — The Federal National Council (FNC) will set up adhoc committees for different sectors when it convenes its third ordinary session of the 15th Legislative Chapter on Monday.

The council will also elect the overseers.

The ad-hoc committees will be formed for sectors like interior and defence, finance, economic and industrial, legislative and legal affairs, education, instruction, youth, media and culture affairs, health, labour and social affairs, foreign affairs, planning, petroleum and mineral resources, agriculture, fisheries, Islamic and Awqaf (Endowments), and public utilities.

As reported earlier, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, will deliver the keynote speech at the opening session, highlighting the important events that have taken place in the country over the year, and the Cabinet’s plan, projects and reforms to be executed in the next session.

The House will then form a committee to reply to the opening address, and review the decree issued regarding Law No. (1) for 2013 which has amended some provisions of Federal Law No. (12) of 2009 on the military disciplinary procedure system.

Another item on the council agenda is the ratification of the international agreements and treaties the UAE government has concluded.

These are the federal decree No. (78) of 2013 on an agreement inked between the government and its Belarus counterpart regarding mutual encouragement and protection of investment and the attached protocol; federal decree No. (79) of 2013 on an agreement signed between the UAE and Mexico on preventing dual taxation and evasion of income tax and the attached protocol; and federal decree No. (80) of 2013 on an agreement signed between the government and Serbia regarding defence cooperation.

An agreement signed with Russia on cooperation in the field of peaceful use of nuclear energy and another with Sri Lanka regarding the setting up of a joint commission would also be ratified during the session.

The draft laws on private health institutions, streamlining the profession of account auditors, issuance of civil procedure law, report on additional endorsement for the general budget of the Federation and budgets of the independent entities for the fiscal year 2013 will be discussed by the council.

General topics that will be discussed include the policies of the general authority for regularising the communications sector, Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, policies of the national transport authority, and Emirates Post; protection of the society from the menace of narcotics; and the reports of international organisations on the state; and the latest developments and works.—