Empower FNC to propose laws

Today the UAE Federal National Council (FNC) is expected to discuss national issues in addition to directing six questions to three ministers during the council's normal weekly session.

The Minister of State for Financial Affairs, Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, is expected to respond to four questions, including some on retirement and pension plans, as well as salaries for federal employees, among other issues.

The Minister of Labour, Saqr Gobash Saeed Gobash, will answer a question about recent developments in the private sector that resulted in the firing of Emiratis from some companies. Finally, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, will respond to a question on the "Emirates Report on Human Rights".

During the last year-and-a-half, the FNC has directed about 46 questions to the ministers of health, education, finance affairs, interior, foreign affairs, public works, higher education and scientific research, social affairs and economy.

The health issues that were discussed in the questions included the policies to deal with serious diseases such as Aids and diabetes, the conditions of medical equipment in government hospitals and the delay in establishing public medical clinics in some areas in the Northern Emirates.

The Minister of Education, Dr Hanif Hassan, meanwhile, was asked about the curriculum and condition of government schools.

Pensions, the impact of the global financial crisis on the country, prohibiting smoking in public places, the decrease in Emiratisation rates in the financial sector, UAE national identity, sponsorship for expatriates who establish their companies in the country and the fact that certain businesses were operating without official approval were some of the other matters that were discussed.

The question and answer sessions are regulated by the Constitutional FNC Standing Orders. Each question is an inquiry articulated by an FNC member about a particular issue that he or she believes requires clarification. The question is also meant to draw attention to a particular incident or matter, which may be referred to the prime minister or the competent minister, as the case may be.

The questions help the FNC to perform its supervisory function. They are a tool stipulated by Article 93 of the Constitution. Questions are posed to the prime minister when they deal with national policy. However, any minister may be questioned about matters that fall within the jurisdiction of his or her ministry. The response could be verbal or in writing.

The question and answer process is a key part of the UAE democracy. However, this process begins and ends under the roof of the FNC, with limited media coverage from time to time. The problem is that there are no tangible results after the questions have been posed. In other words, we do not hear about policies being changed or decisions being made by the minister who has been questioned. This is because the FNC does not have the ability to propose laws, as similar bodies do in other democratic countries.

In the UK, for instance, the parliament is a central part of politics. Its main roles, through both the House of Commons and the House of Lords, include examining and challenging the work of the government (scrutiny), debating and passing all laws (legislation), and enabling the government to raise taxes.

In the US, there is the Congress, which also consists of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct elections. The primary function of the Congress is the making of laws. The House and Senate are equal partners in the legislative process (legislation cannot be enacted without the consent of both chambers).

However, the Constitution grants each chamber some unique powers. The Senate is uniquely empowered to ratify treaties and to approve top presidential appointments. Revenue-raising bills must originate in the House of Representatives, which also has the sole power of impeachment, while the Senate has the sole power to try impeachment cases.

In Kuwait, the National Council performs many key constitutional functions that influence political, social and economic life.

For example, the council has the right to suggest laws, to revise the laws announced by the Emir or the Cabinet and to prevent their implementation if the council members do not approve them. The National Council also has the right to raise questions, investigate or discuss particular issues related to the activities and decisions of the Cabinet.

In the UAE, the situation is different. The FNC does not suggest laws - it only discusses them after they have been passed. Therefore, the real question that should be raised is: When will the FNC be empowered to propose and revise laws and enforce policy changes?

Abdullah Al Shaiba is a UAE national academic and thinker.