The debate on the construction of the new building of the House of Representatives resumes, with the Speaker of the House, Anita Demetriou, in discussions with the Auditor General of the Republic and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Works, according to the Director General of the House, Tasoula Ieronymidou.
Briefing the Parliamentary Finance Committee on the body's 2023 budget, Ieronymidou said that after the issue was "frozen" during the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 by the former Speaker of Parliament, Anita Demetriou has made many efforts on the issue, which dates back to 1994.
"We have held meetings with the Auditor General and the Ministry of Transport because the issue of the site is now on the table because three new ministries will be built there," Ieonymidou said. She also said that the issue of how to construct the new building was also raised on the table and that the Auditor General made some suggestions on the matter.
All MPs raised the issue of the building facilities, while many questioned how the Ministries also "caught up" with the House.
Deputy President of DISY, Harris Georgiades, described as populist the reaction to the need for the Parliament to have a suitable building.
For his part, AKEL MP Aristos Damianou described the existing building as a "continuous construction site" and added that we should all exert the necessary pressure for the new building of the Parliament. And PPP MP Alekos Tryfonidis said it is imperative that the new building of the House of Representatives goes ahead so that the members of the body can perform their work adequately, he said.
Marios Papapolyviou, the financial director of the Parliament, said that it is wrong to say that the new Parliament building will cost €95 million, since, he said, this amount includes 10 years of maintenance, while the cost of construction is estimated at €50 to €60 million.
"The Parliament does not have a building, it is not that it is old or unsuitable. Since 1960 the state has not had a parliament building, we had borrowed a building temporarily until the new building was built," she said.
In addition, the Chairperson of the Committee, DIKO Deputy Chairperson Christiana Erotokritou, raised the issue of the technological adequacy of the parliament's systems.
"We have a problem about the technological adequacy of the systems and the technological support that each MP has."
"We have a problem about the technological adequacy of the systems and the technological support that each MP has. But it is time to put our foot down a bit because the Parliament should be in a better place in terms of technological support for MPs," she said, also raising the issue of the legal department of the Parliament.
In relation to the legal department, Ieronymidou recalled that people have been hired and the legal department has started operating. She noted, however, that there were problems in relation to their role and the notes they were drafting in relation to legislative proposals.
She recalled that in previous budgets funds were included for the purchase of services from reputable lawyers, which could be done. "So it is a matter of political will how to set up or reconstitute the effort that was made," he added.
Towards a new voting system
DIKO MP Chrysis Pantelides said the current voting system is not helpful and noted that an MP does not know what his colleagues are voting on.
In response, the director general of the parliament said the budget included a budget of €400,000 to buy a system modelled on other parliaments. Saying that only one company has this system, Ms Ieronymidou said "we are at an advanced stage to install the basic system and parts will be added as needed."
In relation to technological adequacy, Ms Ieronymidou said there are procedures governing these issues in the public sector, adding that the issue is complex, as models need to be studied on how to provide technological support to the body. She said, however, that in order to have the support in place in other parliaments "30 employees may be needed."
The parliament's budget, the fourth to be drawn up under the body's financial autonomy, foresees spending €31.5 million, an amount corresponding to 0.003% of the total state budget.
According to a note from the Parliament to the Commission, staff expenditure amounts to €15.5 million (49.2% of the total) of which MPs' allowances and allowances amount to €6 million; operating expenditure amounts to €3.7 million, transfers of €11.8 million, fixed assets of €0.5 million and an allocation of €0.02 million.
Source: CNA
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