Draft law amending the Public Health Act (617 SE) – first reading
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 5th session, plenary session
Date: 2025-06-04 22:15
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 38
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 51m
AI Summaries: 38/38 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The central point of the agenda item was the first reading of draft law 617 of the Riigikogu amending the Public Health Act, initiated by Riigikogu member Kalle Grünthal. The draft law aims to end daylight saving time in Estonia and to avoid disruption to the body's natural rhythms, which have far-reaching effects on health and ability to work. Grünthal's introduction and subsequent arguments highlighted that daylight saving time has been widely proven to cause health problems and that there is no proven energy benefit; he presented examples from both Estonian and international studies indicating sleep disorders, an increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease, and a general decline in well-being following the transitions between summer and winter time. It was also emphasized that Estonia has been independent in the matter of time zones, and that the directive being discussed for adoption within the European Union has not been applied in Estonia – which would give the country the freedom to make its own decision (regarding standard time versus daylight saving time) according to the interests of the people. However, the discussion also addressed how such a change could be aligned with the European Union level and what economic and organizational consequences might arise in terms of transport, working hours, and the school process. The second part of the discussion focused more on procedural and funding-political aspects: whether and how Estonia should continue or reconsider ending daylight saving time, and what short- and medium-term possibilities there would be for the functioning of society. Towards the end, the question arose whether to reject the draft law on its first reading in the Riigikogu and how the proceedings should move forward, but no specific agreement was reached, and ultimately the matter was put to a vote.
Decisions Made 1
Bill 617 is rejected on its first reading. The result is 42 in favor, 10 against, and there were no abstentions; the bill falls off the agenda.
Most Active Speaker
The most active speaker was Kalle Grünthal (pid: UZO6xIIvIiQ), the draft's initiator and representative of the starting point. He led the main part of the discussion and presented and developed the core theses concerning the public impact of ending daylight saving time on health and society. Considering his activity and the role associated with it, he could be marked as "other" position (speaker/presenter), not with a definite left or right political alignment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi opened the eighth item on the agenda, noting that while emotions were running high, they needed to be left outside the chamber, and asked Kalle Grünthal to present the first reading of Draft Act 617, the Act amending the Public Health Act, from the Riigikogu rostrum.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal submitted a bill to the Riigikogu to end the practice of changing clocks in Estonia, arguing that daylight saving time is detrimental to health and provides no energy savings, and that Estonia could set an example for Europe by remaining on standard time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Chairman thanked the audience, said he would first ask a few questions, and then called upon Aivar Kokk.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The core of the speech focuses on Estonia's time zone choice: whether to remain on standard (winter) time or switch to daylight saving (summer) time, and whether to look eastward or northward, while simultaneously discussing that the Finns prefer standard time, and the Latvians and Lithuanians prefer daylight saving time.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal said that the draft bill is based on a time zone that is two hours ahead of Universal Time (UTC+2). He has not yet formed a definitive position, and all circumstances, including the economic aspects, can be discussed during the second reading. He understands that travelers may feel a greater impact due to the change, but he emphasizes that the protection of the interests of local Estonians must be prioritized.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi asks that Irja Lutsar be called.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
The waiter and the manager were thanked, and at the same time, they whispered so that no one would hear.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi asked the speaker to talk a little louder, as it was difficult to hear.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
He confirms that he can speak louder, and it's not a problem for him.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi confirms yes, and suggests moving closer to the microphone.
Irja Lutsar
Profiling Eesti 200 fraktsioonAI Summary
He asks how much support this received from Estonians, whether any studies have been conducted specifically on Estonia, and what grounds his belief in Europe's commitment rests upon. He also asks whether he has spoken to any European country and what would happen if Estonia were a small island whose neighbors had a six-month time difference throughout the year.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal notes that the issue has been thoroughly discussed previously and was even addressed by the committee, but currently it has stalled somewhere. The readiness to act is there, and most Estonians finally want to put an end to the time cycle game that affects schoolchildren. The problem is serious, and although the public is grumbling about the car tax, he believes that a large portion of the population still supports it.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
This is simply a brief request addressed to Anti Poolamets.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets claims that today's demand for nationwide control and a unified time standard reeks of Soviet power, and that people want back the same harmful things, such as mass immigration and the surrender of power, which he previously fought against.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal says that his generation has seen things, and he is presenting his vision, believing that the chairman of the session saw it too.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He says he doesn't understand what they are talking about.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal argues that after regaining independence, sovereignty and self-determination were sought, but instead, we moved from one union straight into another, under Brussels. The lack of independent decision-making power persisted until 1999, when the Estonian people finally decided that we would regulate our own clock time and sleep time.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker called on Mait Klaassen to deliver his speech.
Mait Klaassen
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Mait Klaassen emphasizes that while changing the clock time is linked to mobility and transport, the influence of astronomical time on biological rhythms and people's preferences must also be taken into account. He then asks whether, during the drafting of the bill, any schools or institutions were found that had voluntarily reverted the start or end of their working hours.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kalle Grünthal said that the entire system cannot be changed at the level of an individual or a school because it depends on transport, but the issue of the time difference has already been resolved—it was fully functional between 1999 and 2002, and the clock times are simply changed; life goes on.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi was pleased to invite Riina Solman to take the floor.
Riina Solman
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Riina Solman emphasized that the Estonian people want the clocks not to be changed and for there to be more daylight, and noted that she helped bring this bill to the floor so that the topic wouldn't be swept under the rug. She then asked what should be done after today's vote, confirming that work had been done both in the committee and at the international level.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal emphasizes that following the committee vote, which resulted in a tie, the right to decide now rests with the members of the Riigikogu, and the bill's objective—improving public health and working capacity—must not be allowed to be influenced by political pressure or European impacts, but must instead rely on scientific assessments.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Mihkel Lees is being invited to perform.
Mihkel Lees
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Mihkel Lees said that although daylight saving time has been established by a directive and adopted by Estonia, the Riigikogu should not rush ahead, but should instead work towards ensuring that the decision on the time change is made jointly across the entire European Union.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal emphasizes that Estonia must not be at the forefront right now, and issues of foreign relations and the adoption of European Union directives must be based on the laws of the Riigikogu, not on the separate discretion of the executive branch or a commission, because directives cannot be adopted by an individual.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The speaker thanked the audience, announced that there were no further questions, and asked them to listen to the debate and the decisions made by the leading committee, before inviting Mihkel Lees to the podium.
Mihkel Lees
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
The report indicates that the Social Affairs Committee discussed issues related to the first reading of the draft bill and daylight saving time with experts, but a final decision could not be reached due to a 5–5 tie vote. The proceedings will continue based on the discussion held on June 2, with the item being added to the agenda on June 3.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks you, states that there are no questions, opens the debate, and invites Anti Poolamets to take the floor on behalf of the EKRE faction.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets warns that Estonian sovereignty is under pressure from Brussels and supranational forces, criticizes the impact of the green transition and mass immigration, and calls for restoring the independence and the right to self-determination of the Estonian state.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks [the body/person] and requests that Signe Riisalo represent on behalf of the Reform Party faction.
Signe Riisalo
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Riigikogu debated the importance of the procedure for handling draft legislation and the issue of standard time versus daylight saving time. Furthermore, the Reform Party faction proposes rejecting the draft bill amending the Public Health Act during its first reading, arguing that the Public Health Act, which enters into force on September 1st, renders the implementation of this specific bill meaningless.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The Deputy Speaker offered thanks and called upon Aivar Kokk to take the floor on behalf of the Isamaa faction.
Aivar Kokk
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Aivar Kokk stated that the rejection of the draft bill was unfair, arguing that decisions are made here in this chamber based on the mandate of 101 members of the Riigikogu (Parliament), and that officials are merely advisors. He called for the Social Affairs Committee to hold a broader discussion on abolishing the practice of changing the clocks (daylight saving time) and, if necessary, to assign a task to the ministry.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
There are no further requests to speak. Kalle Grünthal has requested the floor, and while representatives of the parliamentary groups are customarily given consideration, he is being asked to make a reply statement.
Kalle Grünthal
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Grünthal stated that Estonia is in the UTC+2 time zone and the bill makes no mention of daylight saving time. While there may be differing opinions regarding UTC+2 or UTC+3, these issues can be addressed through amendments. He commended Signe Riisalo’s position and noted that officials have the ability to incorporate changes regarding the switching of clocks into the Public Health Act. Therefore, all avenues are open, and the Riigikogu should approve this bill to put an end to the practice of changing the clocks.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker declared the debates closed, announced the Reform Party faction's motion to reject Draft Legislation 617 at the first reading, and called upon the Riigikogu to take a stand and vote.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The result was 42 in favor, 10 against, and no abstentions; the motion was supported, and Draft Bill 617 was rejected and is dropped from the proceedings.