Committees’ recent meetings – 12 December 2019
A summary of Kurdistan Parliament’s recent committee meetings and activities:
Peshmerga Affairs Committee
9 December - The committee, led by the chair Mr. Reving Heruri (KDP), held an important meeting with several military advisors from the international coalition forces from Italy, the Netherland, the US, UK and other countries. The committee members and the coalition forces advisers discussed all aspects of the plan to reform and unify the Peshmerga forces.
They also discussed the statistics and data on military cooperation and assistance between the coalition and the Peshmerga. The meeting also discussed the coordination between Iraqi and Peshmerga forces and the need to fill the security vacuum in some Kurdistani areas outside the KRG administrative area, as well as some other areas.
Four committees discuss latest draft of Anti-Narcotics Bill
12 December - MPs from four committees - Legislative Affairs; Interior, Security and Local Councils; Health, Environment and Consumer Rights; and Social Affairs and Human Rights - discussed and reviewed the latest draft of the Bill on Narcotics and Dealers and Users of Narcotics.
The main focus of the meeting was to prepare final report on the Bill, which was submitted by the Presidency of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Council of Ministers to the Kurdistan Parliament.
Reconstruction and Investment Committee
9 December - The committee, led by the chair Mr Hawre Mala Star (PUK), visited the Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction. The Minister Abdulkarim Hamasalh and the MPs discussed coordination between the ministry and the committee so that their meetings can be of more service to the public. The committee raised problems with roads in several areas with the Minister, who pledge to look into and resolve them.
11 December - The committee, led by the vice-chair Mr. Bahjat Spindari (KDP), visited the KRG Investment Board to discuss coordination with the Board with the aim of better serving the public and Kurdistan.
The meeting discussed the importance of amending Law No. 4 of 2006, the Kurdistan Investment Law. The Investment Board and the committee agreed that the law needs amendments to make investing in Kurdistan easier and more attractive.
Martyrs’ Affairs, Genocide and Political Prisoners Committee
11 December - The committee held their weekly meeting, led by the chair Ms. Sawsan Muhammad Mirkhan (KDP). The committee discussed amending the Law on the Rights and Privileges of the Families of Martyrs and Victims of Anfal in Kurdistan Region – Iraq (Law No. 9 of 2013), to define the types of martyrs and their rights and privileges.
The meeting also focused on visits to the provinces of Kurdistan Region to hear about the problems that the families of martyrs and political prisoners face, and seek solutions.
The committee decided to invite the head of Kurdistan’s landmine clearance organization, to discuss victims of landmines.
Committee on Protection of Women's Rights
11 December - The committee held their regular meeting, led by the chair Ms. Lanja Dizayee (KDP).
The recently established committee discussed their plans for the next six months and decided to start implementing it by next week. They also discussed how to coordinate with women's rights organizations.
The Committee decided to visit all government departments concerned with the work of the committee to look into their work and their challenges.
Finance and Economic Affairs Committee
11 December - The committee held their usual meeting, led by the chair Mr. Ziyad Jabbar (PUK).
The committee also discussed how they should work on the KRG’s Reform Bill, which the KRG Council of Ministers that day approved and would send to Parliament, and how to submit their eventual report on the Reform Bill to Parliament’s Presidency.
The MPs considered inviting the KRG Minister of Finance and the General Director of Kurdistan’s Banks to meet with them.
The committee responded to all the notes and requests sent by the public.
The Kurdistan Parliament held the first reading of the bill on 4 December (the eighth sitting of the Winter Session), at which MPs gave their comments and suggestions on it.
The four committees proposed holding a joint meeting with the KRG Minister of the Region for Parliament Affairs, Dr. Vala Fareed, to discuss the bill.