Shura Council held its session today under the chairmanship of HE Ali bin Saleh Al-Saleh.
The Council was notified in regard to the incoming letters from the Chairman of the Council of Representatives H.E. Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Dhahrani concerning two draft laws; cases related to the national safety status where were referred to the foreign affairs, defense and national safety committee and notifying legislative and legal affairs committee, and approving the agreement of exploration and participation in the production of deep gas between Bahrain Government and US occidental company, informing the Council of referral to the finance and economic committee.
The Council was also notified in regard to the incoming letters from the Chairman of the Council of Representatives H.E. Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Dhahrani concerning a number of draft laws; no.36 for 2011 regarding controls over salaries and remunerations for the staff of the government institutions and establishments, combating Trade cheating, amending article 18 of a decree by law no.27 for 2002, establishment of constitutional court, and the council notified of referral to the legislative and legal affairs committee, in addition to the two draft law to ratify the Convention about the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion of taxes on income between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Government of the Czech Republic, and Sri Lanka, and the Council was notified about their referral to the foreign affairs, defense and national economy committee.
The Council approved the request of the head of the Women and Child Affairs Committee Hon. member Munira Isa bin-Hindi, regarding the extending the period prescribed for the Committee to submit its report concerning a draft law on protecting family from violence (prepared in light of the bill proposal submitted by the Council of Representatives).
Then the council took a final opinion to the following draft laws: approving the International Convention No. (138) of 1973 concerning the minimum age for employment, associated with the Royal Decree No. (19) for 2010, ratification of the Convention between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Government of Turkmenistan regarding avoidance of double taxation in respect of taxes on income and capital associated with the Royal Decree No. (31) for 2011, approving Bahrain's joining the International Convention on Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures (Revised Kyoto Convention), associated with the Royal Decree No. (36) for 2011, amending some provisions of the Public Security Force, issued by the Decree by Law No. (3) for 1982, associated with the Royal Decree No. (18) for 2010, "the equality of women members of the public security forces with regard to maternal leave, breastfeeding, and death with their counterparts from female civil servants."
The Council then referred to the next session two draft laws ratification the loan agreement between Bahrain and Abu-Dhabi Fund for financing establishing Bahrain embassy in Abu-Dhabi and ratifying the Convention between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Government of Turkmenistan in regard to promoting and protecting investments, associated with the Royal Decree No. (43) for 2011, and the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee concerning a draft law to ratify the Convention about the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion of taxes on income and capital gains between the Government of the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Government of the Isle of Man, associated with the Royal Decree No. (44) for 2011.
Later, the council was briefed by the Minister of Housing in regard to Housing services granted to certain people in the Community.
After that, the Council discussed the report of the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee concerning the bill approving the Bahrain's joining the Convention regarding Temporary Admission (Istanbul, June 26, 1990) and annexes (A) and (B1), associated with the Royal Decree No. (45) for 2011, and referred it to the next session for final approval.
The Council approved the draft law approving the loan agreement between the Government of Bahrain and Abu-Dhabi fund for development to finance building Bahrain's embassy in Abu-Dhabi, associated with the royal decree no. 80 for 2011.
The Council rejected two draft laws establishing national authority for Human Rights and amending some articles of the civil law.
The Council deferred the discussion regarding issuing reform and rehabilitation establishment law, amending article no. (2) in the consumer protection law and referred to the legislative and legal affairs committee article no. (17) of the law for further study.
At the end of the session, the Council was briefed regarding the participation of the inter-parliamentary group in the meetings which took place in Moscow during the period from 19 to 22 September 2011.