First Reading of the Draft Act Amending the Railway Act and the State Fee Act (Bill 716 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 6th Session, Plenary Sitting
Date: 2025-11-06 02:11
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 11
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 8m
AI Summaries: 11/11 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
As the 23rd and final item on the agenda of the Riigikogu session, the first reading of Draft Act 716, initiated by the Government of the Republic, amending the Railways Act and the State Fees Act, was discussed. Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis introduced the draft bill, the main objective of which is to increase railway safety, ensure the control of the Estonian language proficiency level of locomotive drivers (required level B1 or A2), and reduce bureaucracy. Among the more significant amendments, the Minister highlighted the extension of the deadline for issuing safety permits from 30 days to a maximum of four months to ensure thorough evaluation, and the right granted to the Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority to inspect railway undertakings on site. The Language Inspectorate was also granted the right to check the language proficiency of locomotive drivers. To reduce bureaucracy, railway infrastructure undertakings are given the right to set the prices for ancillary services themselves.
Õnne Pillak, a member of the Economic Affairs Committee, provided an overview of the discussion of the draft bill in the committee. In the committee, the focus was mainly on the reasons for the extension of the deadlines for safety permits (which resulted from an audit by the European Union Agency for Railways), the availability of services, and issues concerning state budget funding. Peeter Ernits asked the rapporteur questions regarding Regulation (EU) 2021/782 of the European Parliament and of the Council on rail passengers’ rights and obligations. Upon the committee's proposal, it was decided to conclude the first reading of the draft bill.
Decisions Made 3
The first reading of Bill 716 was concluded.
The deadline for submitting amendments was set for November 20th at 5:15 PM.
Õnne Pillak was appointed as the representative of the Steering Committee.
Most Active Speaker
Õnne Pillak, a member of the Economic Affairs Committee, was the most active speaker, providing a detailed overview of the committee's discussion and repeatedly answering Peeter Ernits's questions regarding both the content of the draft bill and European Union regulations.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar announced that today's twenty-third and final item on the agenda is the first reading of Bill 716, initiated by the Government of the Republic, concerning the amendment of the Railways Act and the State Fees Act, and invited Minister of Infrastructure Kuldar Leis to present the draft legislation.
Taristuminister Kuldar Leis
AI Summary
Infrastructure Minister Kuldar Leis introduced amendments to the Railway Act and the State Fees Act. The primary objectives of these changes are to enhance railway safety, introduce mandatory checks on the Estonian language proficiency level of locomotive drivers via the Language Inspectorate (Keeleamet), and reduce bureaucracy by extending the processing time for safety permits and granting railway infrastructure undertakings the right to independently set the prices for auxiliary services.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the previous speaker, confirmed there were no questions for the minister, and invited Õnne Pillak, a member of the Economic Affairs Committee, to the Riigikogu rostrum to introduce the progress of the bill’s handling within the committee.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Õnne Pillak, speaking on behalf of the Economic Affairs Committee, provided an overview of the discussion concerning the railway draft bill. The discussion focused on extending the deadlines for safety permits due to an audit by the European Railway Agency, the availability of services, avoiding bureaucracy, and the state budgetary funding of Eesti Raudtee (Estonian Railways). Consequently, it was unanimously decided to send the draft bill to the plenary session agenda for its first reading.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar thanked the presenter and opened the floor for questions, immediately giving the floor to Peeter Ernits, who had at least one question.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits addresses the waitress, apologizing that he hadn't been able to ask the minister the question, and asks her to explain the substance of European Parliament and Council Regulation 2021/782 concerning the rights and obligations of rail passengers.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Õnne Pillak, referencing the commission's minutes, confirms that while she is relaying the topics discussed by the commission, the question of extending safety permits was not raised in the commission in the specific form in which it is currently being presented.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar gave the floor to Peeter Ernits as the next speaker.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits asked for clarification on the substantive side of the discussion, acknowledging his non-technical background and deliberately avoiding railway terminology such as "turnouts" and "switches." The discussion itself centered on one specific regulation and the additions that were later grafted onto it.
Õnne Pillak
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Õnne Pillak responded to the question, noting that of the three topics discussed, the most intense debate focused on extending the deadline for issuing safety permits, particularly concerning its effect on service availability. She then directed listeners to the committee minutes for further details.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concluded the first reading of Bill 716 after brief discussions, setting the deadline for submitting amendments as November 20 at 17:15, and subsequently declared the sitting closed, wishing everyone a peaceful night.