ABU DHABI // Delays in publishing laws in the official gazette are slowing down their implementation, an FNC member has complained.
Abdul Rahim Al Shahin (Ras Al Khaimah) put his complaint to Dr Anwar Gargash, the Minister of State for FNC affairs, at the beginning of Tuesday's nine-hour session. He said the delay in printing violated the constitution.
"I need an explanation. According to Article 111 of the constitution, laws need to be in the official gazette within two weeks at the most after they are passed by the Supreme Council," Dr Al Shahin said. "But during this period of time, the gazette is not even issued."
According to the office of the general secretariat of the Executive Council, which issues the official gazette, it is published once a month.
Dr Al Shahin said that not only was this a major delay, but sometimes publication was delayed by two or three months. He said laws could not be brought into force until they were published in the gazette. "The laws are not published at the right time," he said. "And if they are not, the law is not executed."
He said that it was "important for ministries to physically see legislation to know its framework. They need to see the law to know their rights and responsibilities".
Dr Gargash said he agreed. "The council needs to raise this observation with the Government," he said. There was no reason for the delay, except that late publication had become a habit.
"The Government's first principle is co-operation," he said.
The gazette is distributed only to ministries and other institutions affected by laws, and Dr Al Shahin suggested it should be made available electronically. "The site can mention the laws, and state when the gazette is published." he said.
The council has often questioned ministers on delays in executing laws, and the reasons for them.
Ali Eissa Al Nuaimi (Ajman) said he intended to ask the Minister of Finance, Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, why a law issued in 1985 for the establishment of a legal commissioning body to supervise Islamic banks had still not been implemented.
"The number of Islamic banks in the country through past years has continued to increase. We want to know what has happened to this law and what are the procedures that will be taken concerning it," he said.
The minister has two weeks to give a response.
The official gazette includes laws and decrees, circulars and regulations. It has been in publication since 1965. Since 2009 it has been available in Arabic and English.
In other business this week, during the second part of Tuesday's session discussing the law on abandoned children, Dr Al Shahin told the Minister of Social Affairs, Mariam Al Raoumi, that implementing the law looked difficult.
"The money - where will it come from? From the Government? Charities? There is a difference between the law and the execution of the law," he said.
He also asked whether there were courses at universities that could graduate people qualified to work at the abandoned children's shelter or become the specialised social workers the ministry needed.
The minister said a budget for 2013 was already in place, and land had been set aside for the shelter. She said universities had courses in psychiatry, psychology, and social work.
"I think these are enough to cover these aspects," she said.
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