Members of the Shura Council are seeking more powers to act as an effective legislative authority.
Speaking at Parliament’s weekly meeting yesterday, Abdullah Al Nuaimi said the Shura Council Executive Bylaws Law of 2002 is outdated and needs to be changed.
“We need to come up with a futuristic roadmap for the Shura Council to play its legitimate role,” he said.
“The time has come to work in a more effective, pragmatic and logical manner in line with the democratic reforms and progress we are seeing in this country.”
He cited an example where members of the Shura Council were not allowed to ask questions directly to the relevant minister, but were only informed of the minister’s answers to their questions.
“Moreover, the proposals we present lack a clear referral mechanism and the process is unclear. We need to know the hierarchy and who to follow up with.”
Constitutional amendments giving more powers to the Parliament and the Shura Council were approved in 2012, and these were reflected in the 2002 Parliament and Shura Council Bylaws.
However, the Shura Council was not given the power to direct questions to ministers and have them present for further questioning; similar powers were given only to parliament.
The right to ask questions by the Shura Council was reinstated in 2018 through further constitutional amendments, but the right was limited to written responses from the minister notified to members.
Meanwhile, Shura Council members unanimously approved an amendment to the Shura Council Bylaws Act of 2002 that would require final financial statements to be submitted to the Chair within three months after the end of the fiscal year, rather than one month after the end of the fiscal year.
The chairperson has the authority to seek the opinion of the Financial and Economic Committee before calling for a vote.
Parliamentarians have already voted in favor of the amendments, which will now be ratified by His Majesty King Hamad.
Shura Council President Ali Saleh also informed members about Parliament’s rejection of the 2015 Amendment to the Protection from Domestic Violence Act.
Of the 34 councilors who attended last Tuesday’s weekly meeting, 22 voted against the amendment, eight approved, and four abstained.
Health care workers, teachers, and custodians who fail to report suspected cases of domestic violence to authorities within 48 hours face jail time, fines, or both; The idea is for families to come forward and take action as soon as they come across a case where they believe they are a victim of domestic violence. Domestic violence and abuse.
Members voted to refer it to the Services Committee for consideration.
If a Shura council member votes against the bill, the bill will go back to Parliament for another vote, then back to Shura, and then be shelved if no agreement is reached to give it the go-ahead.
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