Draft law amending the Radiation Act and, in consequence thereof, amending other acts (573 SE) - first reading
Session: 15th Estonian Parliament, 5th session, plenary sitting
Date: 2025-02-19 20:43
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 10
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 15m
AI Summaries: 10/10 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu subsequently held a first reading of bill 573, the Act amending the Radiation Act and other related acts. The bill aims to reduce administrative burden and make radiation-related regulations more sensible by adding a category for very low-risk radiation activities. This includes dental X-ray equipment and other measuring devices that people use regularly; for these, a one-time registration will be sufficient and a radiation activity permit will no longer be required. It also includes more thorough attention to risk assessment and measures for radiation safety and physical protection, treating the field more broadly than before, including the number of radiation sources, resources, and safety culture.
Alongside this, the bill also addresses the final disposal of radioactive waste in Paldiski and the financing of related infrastructure, which is necessary for the transposition of European Union directives. It describes how the implementation of the ALARA principle and the amendment of the Administrative Cooperation Act will change the roles of institutions and allow for the conclusion of administrative contracts to make work organization smoother. The bill contains several draft regulations and their amendments to simplify the work organization of radiation activity permit holders and those carrying out radiation activities and to better control risks. It also highlights recently recorded data: to date, Estonia has 741 radiation activity permits, of which approximately 400 are devices used in dental treatment, and the expected impact on the state budget is a reduction of 12,550 euros in annual revenue. Finally, as expected, the entry into force will generally proceed and the procedure must continue smoothly in April to bring the law into force.
Decisions Made 4
Propose adding the draft to the plenary session agenda for February 19th; a consensus decision to expedite the procedure for the Radiation Act concerning the Riigikogu.
First reading completed; a consensus decision that the draft proceeds to the next stage.
Appoint Urve Tiidus (Urve Tiiduse pid) as the representative of the steering committee to lead inter-committee discussions and coordinate procedures.
The deadline for submitting amendments is set at 5:15 PM on March 6th (as presented in the negotiations).
Most Active Speaker
Urve Tiiduse (Urve Tiiduse event) – member of the environment committee; represents collaboration with varying levels of interest from the coalition, position: other
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Riigikogu will consider, as the sixth item on today’s agenda, the first reading of Bill No. 573 initiated by the Government of the Republic, amending the Radiation Act and related laws, and has invited Climate Minister Yoko Alender to present the bill.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
The aim of the amendments to the Radiation Act presented before the Riigikogu is to simplify administration and reduce bureaucracy, to bring very low-risk radiological activities under the registry, and to expand the appointment of radiation safety specialists, while reorganizing the funding of waste management and the implementation of the ALARA principle, which brings savings for companies and the state.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair, Lauri Hussar, thanks and notes that there are questions, and asks his colleague Tiit Maran to take the floor.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran thanked the excellent presentation, pointed out the reasonableness of the legislative amendment, noted that the storage of Paldiski radioactive waste is becoming easier, mentioned a cost of 150 million euros, and asked how this strange contrast should be understood, when the promises of building a nuclear power plant claim that waste storage is easy and does not pose any particular problem.
Kliimaminister Yoko Alender
AI Summary
Climate Minister Yoko Alender said that the draft bill does not directly affect future nuclear waste; the Paldiski storage site is mainly for preserving historical heritage, and only a small portion of today's waste is collected there, and funds from the state budget are needed to ensure its safe containment.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The chair thanked the minister, announced the end of questions, and invited colleague Urve Tiidus to come to the podium.
Urve Tiidus
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Urve Tiidus said that the aim of the draft is to reduce administrative burden by replacing in dentistry the ionizing radiation devices used with a one-off registration for a small state fee instead of a radiation activity license, and continuing with a radiation activity license in cases of higher risk; the need for Paldiski's radioactive waste final-disposal infrastructure was discussed, with an estimated cost of about 150 million euros, and safe storage is planned by 2040; the need for a future nuclear power plant is not related to the draft; the commission decided to put the draft on the plenary agenda on 19 February, to complete the first reading, and to designate Urve Tiidus as the lead committee's representative.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Speaker Lauri Hussar thanks his colleague, notes broad consensus, and opens negotiations, requesting on behalf of the Eesti 200 faction that Igor Tarole speak at the Riigikogu's podium.
Igor Taro
AI Summary
Eesti 200 gives strong support to the proposed bill, because it reduces bureaucracy, solves the Paldiski nuclear waste final disposal problem, and provides important experience for the construction of a future nuclear power plant, helping by 2035 to replace oil shale energy production with nuclear energy production capacities, and emphasizes that nuclear energy is essential for Estonia's future.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker Lauri Hussar thanked his colleagues and announced that the first reading of draft bill 573 has been completed, the deadline for submitting amendments is March 6 this year at 17:15, and today's agenda has been exhausted and the Riigikogu plenary session has ended. Have a peaceful evening, everyone.