Second reading of the bill amending the Hunting Act (553 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-05-06 15:33
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 22
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 28m
AI Summaries: 22/22 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The topic of the third agenda item was the second reading of draft law 553, amending the Hunting Act, initiated by the Isamaa faction. The presentation was delivered by a representative of the Environment Committee, and the overview of the session focused on the preparation for the second reading and the technical and procedural aspects of the amendments. As background, it is noted that the wolf hunt, suspended due to a court ruling at the end of last year, triggered a wolf crisis in Estonia: the wolf population grew, but the financial and legal mechanisms for hunting were inadequate. The first reading was completed on January 28th, and Andrus Seeme submitted one amendment proposal; this was followed by a meeting to involve stakeholders on February 18th, and several technical amendments with the Ministry of Climate. Regarding the core content, it is stipulated that an injured animal may be tracked and culled when moving from one hunting area to another, and although the amendments are primarily technical, various discussion points were addressed, including weapon loading, the use of night sights, and the consent of the neighboring hunting area. Finally, the committee decided to fully consider the draft and proceed with the following steps in the procedure: inclusion on the plenary agenda for May 6, 2025, completion of the second reading, and the final vote on May 14, 2025.
Decisions Made 3
To place draft 553 on the plenary agenda for a second reading on May 6, 2025 (consensus decision).
Second reading to be completed (consensus decision).
To place the draft on the agenda of the plenary session and to carry out the final vote on May 14, 2025 (consensus decision).
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker during the adoption of agenda item three and the discussion of topics; spoke a total of four times (in paragraphs 2, 7, 10, and 14) and provided an overview of the meeting’s mandates and further steps. His position is “other” (as his political affiliation is not directly highlighted in the text), but he acted as a leading presenter and directed the discussion on the issues of arms management and night vision use.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The topic of the third agenda item is the second reading of the draft law No. 553 on amending the Hunting Act, initiated by the Isamaa faction, and the rapporteur is Tiit Maran, a member of the Economic Committee.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran gave a brief overview of the Environment Committee's 15 April meeting, in which the focus was on preparing for the second reading of the Isamaa faction's amendments to the Hunting Act and its accompanying additions, including enabling the pursuit of wounded game through technical amendments, and discussions on the consent of neighboring hunting districts, safety, and other issues; the committee adopted these amendments by consensus and decided to submit the bill to the plenary on 6 May 2025 and to close the second reading with a final vote on 14 May.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller said that someone has at least one question, and asked Andres Metsoja to present that question.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
As the vice-chair of the Environmental Committee, they proposed correcting an error in the stenogram, according to which the speaker was named a member of the Economic Committee, emphasizing that they are actually a member of the Environmental Committee.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He thanks and says that he had the same feeling, but he wasn't quite sure if he heard it correctly.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman thanks and asks Peeter Ernits to take the floor.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits criticizes piecemeal changes to the hunting law, arguing that nothing else will work and that one must start over and conduct proceedings, wasting time and money, and suspects the motives behind Kihusalu farm in Soomaa and its owner, who is quite cruel, because in Soomaa they are involved in wolf breeding and the livestock are disturbed.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They provide an overview of the Environmental Committee's meeting and note that at the previous meeting held on February 18, the individuals who were present submitted opinions, and these were taken into account.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Arvo Aller invites Andrus Seeme to speak.
Andrus Seeme
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Andrus Seeme notes that the commission did not discuss the tracking of an injured game animal in protected areas, and asks what your position is and whether this could ever be discussed.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
They thank and note that this could certainly be discussed, but only if they are in a somewhat different role.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
Vice-chairman Arvo Aller announced the end of the questions, proclaimed the opening of the negotiations and then their closing, and invited the next bench and Andres Metsoja to speak first.
Andres Metsoja
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Andres Metsoja said that changing the hunting law was a mandatory response to the court ruling to halt the wolf hunt; the coalition should have involved more and brought the bill through the process more broadly, but thorough hearings and the input of experts highlighted the need to find a balance between nature conservation and economic activity and to monitor the wolf as Estonia's national animal population, because the species' status is improving, but there are no final solutions, and issues of livestock farming and biodiversity require ongoing compromises.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy speaker Arvo Aller thanks, asks Tiit Maran to speak, and requests three more minutes.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran emphasizes that the wolf issue reflects how far our society is from being in harmony with nature, and invites us to think like the forest and the bog, to understand population biology and to avoid both the destruction of wolves and merely following preventive measures, because sustainability depends on the carrying capacity of the habitat and on whether we act in accordance with nature.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller emphasizes that now is your time to act.
Tiit Maran
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tiit Maran stressed that, when it comes to matters related to wolves as well as to the living environment, one should think like a forest and a bog, not only money, profit and economic growth, because the latter is ruinous.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The speech begins with thanks, and next comes Peeter Ernits.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits believes that in Estonia nature conservation should be balanced with human interests and that the impact of large carnivores should be limited, and he emphasizes cooperation and the need for broader legislative amendments that take all interests into account.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The deputy chairman Arvo Aller asks whether extra time is desired or something else.
Peeter Ernits
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Peeter Ernits said that he does not want anything, wishes everyone a nice spring and more cooperation, and he thanks.
Aseesimees Arvo Aller
AI Summary
The vice-chairman Arvo Aller announced that the negotiations have ended, two amendment proposals were made regarding Draft Bill 553 and they were reviewed, the lead committee recommended finishing the second reading, and the third item on the agenda has been dealt with; the session has ended.