Nasheed calls for rule change for speedy questioning of ministers
A notice of the question asked is sent in writing to the minister through the speaker and a 14-day notice has been given.
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By
Mariyam Umna Ismail
Speaker Mohamed Nasheed said on Tuesday that the entire parliamentary system needs to be changed to speed up scheduling ministers for questioning in parliament.
Nasheed made the remarks while speaking to lawmakers after the questioning of education minister Dr Aishath Ali during Tuesday's session.
Nasheed said lawmakers have requested 45 questions for different ministers. Here are some of them:
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22 questions seeking written response
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23 questions for in-person responses
He said all members would agree that the entire parliamentary system needs to be revamped to expedite the process. If the system is not changed, the process of questioning ministers can be scheduled only after the topic loses relevance over time.
"Otherwise, if this is the practice, then questioning ministers is three to four months too late. When something happens, a respected member wishes to ask a minister regarding it, and by the time the questioning gets possible, the matter is disclosed or settled somehow," Nasheed said.
As per the rules of the parliament, questioning ministers can be scheduled after:
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A notice of the question asked is sent in writing to the minister through the speaker and a 14-day notice has been given
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The 14-day period will be counted by including official holidays
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However, the speaker has the power to put the matter into parliament agenda when the minister responds, even before the expiry of the notice period
Thimarafushi MP Abdulla Riyaz also expressed concern over the fact that the rules of the parliament state that the minister should answer the questions raised by the members within 14 days and that this is not the case now.
Riyaz was expressing his displeasure over finance minister Ibrahim Ameer's reluctance to attend parliament to answer a question sent to him three months ago.
