Request for Information Regarding the Government Commission's Activities on Population Policy (No. 661)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 4th sitting, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-12-09 17:32
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 40
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 59m
AI Summaries: 40/40 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The presented inquiry regarding the government commission’s activity on population policy addresses questions of the commission’s frequency, the number of experts involved, and transparency. Considering the demographic crisis and the sustainability of the population, the inquirers emphasize the need to ensure systematic scientific analysis and a current work plan. Furthermore, the question of why the commission has not met this year has been raised, as well as how to avoid duplicated work at the level of working groups or crisis problem commissions, and what specific measures are foreseen to increase birth rates.
The debate also covered the modification and supplementation of the commission’s composition to include more experts and representatives from various ministries, and emphasized the need to integrate population policy into existing development plans (such as Estonia 2035 and the welfare development plan) and ensure their consideration in solving population problems. Various speakers highlighted the role of the government and the Riigikogu in the issues of birth rates and family security, and discussed improving transparency and public engagement, including the possibility of a joint public session and increasing access to information.
Decisions Made 1
Organizing joint and regular meetings and improving information accessibility: it was decided that the commission will continue holding regular meetings and, if necessary, organize joint presentations/speaking aids and joint public hearings to increase public involvement and transparency in discussions regarding population issues.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Riina Solman (YnKIrQfzj2E), a member of the Riigikogu. She belongs to the Reform Party and can therefore be described as a right-wing politician, whose presentations emphasized the impact of demographics and family support measures, and raised questions arising in the context of the country's sustainability.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Next on the agenda is inquiry no. 661, submitted on 23 October 2024, concerning the activities of the Government Committee on Population Policy, which was submitted by Evelin Poolametsa, Helle-Moonika Helme and Arvo Alleri, and Evelin Poolametsa is asked to act as the rapporteur.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Submitted by Evelin Poolamets on behalf of the EKRE faction a parliamentary inquiry to the Government Commission on Population Policy, based on data from Statistics Estonia, according to which last year in Estonia 10,949 people were born and 17,315 died, emphasizing that the decline in birth rate requires systematic scientific analysis and a strategy, and requesting an explanation why the commission has not met this year and how to ensure the commission's effective and regular work and the involvement of an expert, how to avoid duplication of separate task groups, what measures the commission intends to propose to halt birth rates and ensure population sustainability, and how to improve transparency and accessibility of information to increase public trust.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the Minister of Social Protection, Signe Riisalo, and invites her to the Riigikogu's speaking podium to answer the interpellants' questions.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Signe Riisalo emphasized that to solve population problems one must focus on the existing strategies, such as Estonia 2035 and the Wellbeing Development Plan, involve more experts, and avoid duplication of pilot groups, while carrying out completed studies and development plans in line with ensuring the population's sustainability.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi emphasizes that the yellow book does not allow extending the time to answer inquiries and questions, but on the following questions one may also address the question that cannot be answered, and he took 30 seconds off, so there are now 45 seconds for the next questions.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo said that the recommendations for fertility should be drafted in May on the basis of an analysis to be published in May, to be substantive, independent of political parties, and based on the needs of children and families, emphasizing transparency and that the materials will be available on the Ministry of Social Affairs' website, and consideration is being given to organizing a joint public meeting to involve a wider circle of interested parties.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanks the audience and asks Jaak Valge to answer the questions.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge accuses the minister of passivity on the issue of childbirth and stresses that this year the number of births will most likely fall to the lowest level in history, showing that the problem is not the decrease in the number of women preparing to give birth, but the minister's inaction.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo said that the 2024 cohort birth rate is 0.1 percentage points higher than in 2023, but this cannot be used to draw long-term conclusions, he confirmed that he has not been passive and emphasized the importance of balancing family and work life and of participating in several areas of life, for which the state has in recent years increased aid for different families and offered services up to family mediation.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is merely a request to invite Vadim Belobrovtsev to perform.
Vadim Belobrovtsev
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker asks what the current government and the previous government with the same composition have done in recent years to increase families' sense of security and to reduce fears about payments and family benefits.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
According to Riisalo, family and child benefits have increased significantly, and need-based measures have been implemented, but economic uncertainty may reduce birth rates; therefore independence and security are Estonia's priority, and resources must be directed toward that end.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks René Kokk to speak.
AI Summary
Rene Kokk criticized the government, stating that before the elections allowances for large families were increased, but now they are being reduced and taxes raised, and he asks what their proposals were to help families with children.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo said that during coalition talks it is necessary to stick to the existing scheme of child and family benefits and not switch to a needs-based child benefits system, because it supports all children born in Estonia and directs aid to families with a higher risk of poverty, such as families with more than three children or where one parent is raising children, and on the issue of the security tax he is of the same mind as the coalition and emphasizes the importance of preserving the country's independence in the current difficult situation with Russia as a neighbor.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Kert Kingo is invited to speak.
Kert Kingo
AI Summary
Kert Kingo accuses the government that although the aim is to increase the safety of births and families, the health insurance for stay-at-home mothers was cancelled and the taxpayer covers the costs for immigrants and LGBT people, which raises the question of equality.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo said that the health insurance contributions for dependent spouses should be assessed uniformly under the same conditions and take into account the aging of the population and the need for labor, in order to ensure pensions and healthcare, and therefore it is expected that people will be steered to work to a greater extent and, at times, choose between private health insurance or registering as unemployed.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, merely asks that Anti Poolamets take the floor.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets accuses the minister of creating insecurity and of damaging trust in the state's promises and in the rule of law, recalls the cancellation of the promise and the making of the family benefits decision, and asks what other measures to support fertility exist today—whether related to housing or something else.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo emphasizes that increasing allowances for large families was not his wish, but a compromise of the coalition agreement, and as a result the allowance for families with seven or more children has risen to 250 euros, the allowance for families with three to six children has risen to 150 euros, and the allowance for the first and second child and for single parents has also increased.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, invites Riina Solmani onto the stage.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman criticizes the demographic policy of the government led by Kaja Kallas, highlights the law passed by the Riigikogu in 2017, which established support for families with three or more children and which over two consecutive years brought a 25% increase in birth rates, and asks where such a rigid attitude that disregards birth rates came from—was it from the leaders of the Reform Party or from the Ministry of Social Affairs?
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
According to Riisalo, monetary family benefits have not produced the desired effect on birth rates, and one must focus on needs-based assistance, on the restructuring of services, and on creating a more child-friendly environment, and on taking on realistic commitments.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, asked Evelin Poolametsa.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They thank the chair of the meeting and the minister, and ask whether the climate targets mentioned in the Population Development Plan are related to one another, and why they were included in the response.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
The Minister of Social Protection, Signe Riisalo, said that the environment shapes children's living environment and influences their independence, their commuting to school and to training, and thereby their mental health; on Wednesday this will be discussed in the Prevention Council.
Lauri Laats
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Lauri Laats, at today's session, on behalf of the Estonian Centre Party faction, proposed to the government the task of analyzing the social media use of young people and children and possible restrictions, citing examples from Australia, France, and the state of Ohio, and asking whether analyses have already been carried out or whether this should be undertaken more thoroughly.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speech is a plea to invite Lauri Laats onto the stage.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
According to Riisalo, we do have several analyses and a picture is forming, but the overall picture is incomplete; countries are weighing restrictions and some have them already in mind, but no launches have been made, and since the Internet is global, the analysis must involve young people and the restrictions must be proportional and thoroughly discussed, because young people use smart devices for learning and for cultural activities, and the answers show that banning is not a solution.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Toomas Kivimägi invited Mart Maastik to speak.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mart Maastik claims that support for single mothers and large families did not occur under the Reform Party's leadership, but by Isamaa, and has actually decreased, and he cites Kert Kingo's question as an example of why the state should foot the bill for the health insurance of a stay-at-home mother, while at the same time spending hundreds of thousands of euros on LGBT associations' propaganda events, and asks whether these expenditures are proportionate.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo confirmed that families with children are paid about one billion euros under the Family Benefits Act, most of which goes to strategic partners (the House of People with Disabilities, the Child Protection Union, the Large Families' Union together with the Child Protection Union, the network for the elderly led by the Golden League together with Praxis, and the Union of Pensioners' Associations), and only a very small portion reaches the stigmatized target group, which is directly related to the context of human rights.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, thanks and announces that there are no more questions, opens the negotiations, and asks Evelin Poolametsa to take the floor.
Evelin Poolamets
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Poolamets emphasizes that the demographic crisis requires central management and raising the priority of population policy, and recommends restoring a position leading population policy or creating a prime minister’s demographic office, and implementing concrete measures to support families and increase birth rates, because the current inaction threatens the existence of Estonia.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speaker thanks wholeheartedly and turns to Riina Solman with a request.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman accuses the government of spreading lies on the topic of large-family benefits, and stresses Isamaa's contribution to improving birth rates, recalling the 2017 law that provided support to families with three or more children, and notes that the number of births has fallen, and that in order to ensure families' sense of security there is a need for clear funding and an effective population policy.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Toomas Kivimägi asks for three more minutes.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman emphasizes that large families make up about 14% of Estonia's future, and that the value of parenthood and of parents' work must be valued more highly in order to prevent a decline in fertility and the loss of the younger generation, and she criticizes the government for the lack of transparency and focus of the commissions.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The deputy chairman, Toomas Kivimägi, ended the negotiations, noting that the minister has returned to the chamber in response to your remark, and that your word carries weight, and the consideration of this agenda item has been concluded.