UAE | Government

Laws 'issued in the absence of UAE Federal National Council unconstitutional'

Minister apologises to council for remarks on house functioning.

  • By Samir Salama, Associate Editor
  • Published: 12:32 December 30, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, speaks to Mariam Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs during an FNC session at FNC headquarters in Abu Dhabi.
  • Image Credit: Ravindranath/Gulf News
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Abu Dhabi: In a significant indication of the expanding room for freedom in the UAE, the Federal National Council (FNC) members made the Minister of State for FNC Affairs to apologise for his remarks that the members are questioning the credibility of the Government.

The unicameral parliament of the UAE termed as unconstitutional any law that is issued in the absence of the House, unless it is urgent.

Dr Abdul Rahim Al Shahin, a lawmaker from Ras Al Khaimah, said yesterday that the Government, in violation of the Constitution, issued a number of laws, which were not urgent and were not presented to the House. And they were not published in the official gazette, said Al Shahin.

"These laws had to be reviewed and ratified by the Supreme Council of the Rulers of the Emirates ... but to the best of my knowledge, these laws were not approved by the Supreme Council within a week from the date of issue. Moreover, they were not reviewed by the House as stated in the Constitution," he added.

Medical malpractice

Al Shahin questioned about the funds spent on the Ministry of Foreign Trade, which was established in the absence of the FNC. He also questioned the constitutionality of the law on human resource, which "was not urgent".

FNC members also questioned Mariam Al Roumi, Minister of Social Affairs, on the new measures taken for social-assistance programme and social security.

People are being killed by preventable hospital errors and neglect, the FNC was told.

"Unfortunately, medical errors recurred during surgical procedures and caused deaths, even during simple operations," said Salem Mohammad Al Naqbi, an FNC member. This proves how dangerous it is to be in a hospital, he said.

"So what's causing all these deaths in the first place and what did the Ministry of Health do to prevent these errors and complications during surgical procedures, including post-operative infections that result in death?" questioned the FNC member.

Humaid Al Qutami, Minister of Health, wasn't present at the FNC meeting, but sent a written statement: The ministry took several measures, including issuing the medical liability clause and establishing a committee to look into medical errors and determine who is responsible and ways to prevent them.

Training and receiving internationally-renowned doctors were among the measures taken by the ministry, according to Al Qutami's statement.

The House rejected the statement and demanded that the minister show up at the session. If we had taken enough measures to prevent these errors, we would have far fewer deaths and great improvement in patient care, said Al Naqbi, FNC member.

The legislature also questioned the Government's move to send delinquents to centres attached to prisons, where they could mingle with criminals.

The House criticised the role and performance of the rehabilitation centres for minors and said that majority of drug addicts and others criminals served their terms in such centres.

They demanded that the Government revoke a decision to stop accepting delinquent expatriates at rehabilitation centres across the country.

Mariam Al Roumi said the Government took a decision to separate foreign and Emirati delinquents to help protect UAE nationals from external influence.

The minister added that majority of foreign delinquents committed dangerous crimes, including armed robbery, murder and rape.

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