ABU DHABI // Members say disruptions to FNC sessions have been a problem since this council convened.
Members become fired up about certain topics and spend months preparing. Then a final report sits in a drawer for months, sometimes years, until a session is set with a federal minister for public debate.
By then, any momentum is lost.
For years, the council has blamed the Ministry of FNC Affairs for this. The FNC is considered to be independent of the ministry.
The ministry’s official website says its main role is to coordinate between the Government and the FNC, take part in drafting legislation related to the role of the council, and supervise media affairs linked to parliamentary practice. Presumably, this means that it is up to the ministry to determine which minister sits with the FNC, and when debates and report discussions take place.
But last week Dr Anwar Gargash, Minister of State for FNC Affairs, said it was up to the council to determine which report it wanted to study next, and when.
Some members found this response confusing, believing the ministry has always been responsible. They say this is not how the agenda is set.
Hamad Al Rahoomi (Dubai) has complained about this several times in the presence of Dr Gargash, saying that if ministers can plan for press conferences and other events, they can easily plan for council appearances.
Mr Al Rahoomi says pointing out problems in ministries is the council’s job, and ministers should not take offence.
“This is why we are getting our salaries,” he says.
This constant bickering puts the FNC in a bad light, and disputes with ministers keep these ministers from performing their tasks.
While it might be too late to solve the problem for the current council, a new system is essential to ensure uninterrupted work for the next.
osalem@thenational.ae
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How to watch Ireland v Pakistan in UAE
When: The one-off Test starts on Friday, May 11
What time: Each day’s play is scheduled to start at 2pm UAE time.
TV: The match will be broadcast on OSN Sports Cricket HD. Subscribers to the channel can also stream the action live on OSN Play.
Karwaan
Producer: Ronnie Screwvala
Director: Akarsh Khurana
Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar
Rating: 4/5
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What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Panipat
Director Ashutosh Gowariker
Produced Ashutosh Gowariker, Rohit Shelatkar, Reliance Entertainment
Cast Arjun Kapoor, Sanjay Dutt, Kriti Sanon, Mohnish Behl, Padmini Kolhapure, Zeenat Aman
Rating 3 /5 stars