Inquiry regarding the court budget reduction plan (no. 669)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-01-13 20:11
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 18
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 34m
AI Summaries: 18/18 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
A brief overview of the agenda: Riigikogu debate regarding the inquiry presented on November 20, 2024, by Arvo Aller, Martin Helme, Rain Epler, Kert Kingo, and Evelin Poolamets, concerning court budget cuts plan no. 669. The central question involved the possibility of closing the Jõhvi courthouse and its impact on Ida-Viru County and the entire border region. The content of the inquiry encompassed questions of the efficiency of court building space usage as well as the presence of the state and accessibility of justice. In the initial speech, Arvo Aller spoke, and the entire debate moved toward a wide range of questions and answers regarding the regional impact of court reforms and the necessary guarantees.
Decisions Made 1
Decisions were not made; the discussion continues and concrete solutions and real estate negotiations must be coordinated in the further proceedings.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Member of Parliament and Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta (pid UgFd274QJi4); her position is described as "other," meaning she doesn't have a clearly left- or right-wing party affiliation in this context.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Within the fifth agenda item, the inquiry submitted on 20 November 2024 by Arvo Alleri, Martin Helme, Rain Epleri, Kert Kingo and Evelin Poolametsa regarding the courts' cutback plan no. 669 will be considered, and Arvo Aller will take the floor to deliver a speech.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Alleri emphasizes that the closure of the Jõhvi courthouse planned for 2026 would undermine the region's access to legal services, the state's presence and reputation in Ida-Viru County, and would be regionally unwarranted, given Jõhvi's important role and the network of institutions there.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chair thanked the audience and gave the esteemed Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta the opportunity to add new facts about the topic under discussion.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
Justice and Digital Minister Liisa-Ly Pakosta emphasized that the Jõhvi courthouse must be preserved, and court proceedings must be fast, flexible, and accessible, which is achieved through reallocation of space, broader use of videoconferencing for court hearings, and preserving the Narva courthouse building.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanks the minister and asks that Siim Pohlak pose one question.
Siim Pohlak
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Siim Pohlak poses a set of critical questions and asks where the cut mandate came from (was it from Jürgen Ligi or from somewhere else), why Estonia 200 is pursuing such submissive politics, and whether the party has an independent stance or if they merely follow the Reform Party or Jürgen Ligi's cuts.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
The briefing emphasizes that Estonia's defense must focus on destroying the enemy on its own territory and on deterring the enemy from the very outset, which requires different defensive weaponry and rapid defense spending, and at the same time restructuring public sector spending to provide better services at lower costs and to protect Estonia's territory from the very first second.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
More questions arose, and it was requested that Arvo Aller take the floor.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller criticizes Eesti 200 and claims that their defense and national defense cuts are the dismantling of the state, and that not a single cent of the 682,000 will go into national defense, and at the same time asks whether the Jõhvi courthouse will close starting from 2026, when negotiations with the developer end.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
I do not agree with many statements, but this is a typical political dispute; The closure of the Põlva courthouse has been discussed and decided several times before, before Eesti 200 existed; For the Jõhvi courthouse, not enough money was found even in earlier government periods, which is why cooperation with the private sector was pursued, and money was not found in the budget in earlier years; and negotiations are underway in Jõhvi to find premises at a significantly lower rate, which the court director will do his best to obtain, and perhaps a good offer will be found.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, invited Rain Epler onto the stage.
Rain Epler
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Rain Epler asks how the process of bringing someone to court will be organized after the Jõhvi courthouse is closed, and whether a court kiosk or some other solution will be created for this.
Justiits- ja digiminister Liisa-Ly Pakosta
AI Summary
The main message of the presentation is that the court system is becoming more economical and more accessible to people, where a large portion of court disputes is resolved in writing or by video without the need to physically appear, and for example, regarding Jõhvi, a written procedure with a good video connection is envisaged to ensure fair decisions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks the minister, announces that there are no more answers to the questions, opens negotiations, and invites Anti Poolametsa, who asks for more time; eight minutes have been given.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets emphasizes that closing the Jõhvi courthouse would damage Ida-Virumaa's state presence, residents' access to justice, and the region's architectural dignity, and therefore maintaining a regional center is essential, despite the ideas of a digital state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech is a short expression of gratitude that invites Arvo Aller to take the floor.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller said that the Jõhvi courthouse must not be closed, because it is the county's center where bus lines and essential services converge and which makes the lives of judges and people easier, and he invited the minister and Riigi Kinnisvara Aktsiaselts to begin negotiations so that the courthouse would remain in operation from 2026 onwards.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Speaker Toomas Kivimägi thanked the participants and closed the deliberations, noting that there are no further speaking requests from members of the Riigikogu and that the handling of this agenda item has been completed.