Second Reading of the Draft Act on Amendments to the Estonian Cultural Endowment Act and the Gambling Tax Act (338 SE)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary session
Date: 2024-02-21 16:39
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 41
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 1h 6m
AI Summaries: 41/41 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
The Riigikogu debated the second reading of Bill 338, initiated by the Culture Committee, concerning amendments to the Cultural Endowment of Estonia Act and the Gambling Tax Act. The bill had two main objectives: first, to grant the council of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia (Kulka) the right to finance one additional cultural building, besides the objects listed in the ranking of nationally important cultural buildings approved by the Riigikogu. This additional funding is only possible if Kulka has sufficient funds for it and if it does not affect the completion of the objects already on the ranking list. This amendment is primarily related to accelerating the construction of the new Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) television house, utilizing Kulka's accumulated reserves. The second important objective was improving the social guarantees for freelance creative professionals. To achieve this, the rate of funds allocated for promoting the creative work of teaching staff in the Gambling Tax Act is changed from 3.8% to 2%, directing the released 1.8% to the disposal of the designated capital funds. Furthermore, the current creative work allowance will be replaced by creative work remuneration, which will be formalized through a contract for services. This ensures social protection (health, pension, and unemployment insurance) for creative professionals, thereby solving the long-standing acute problem of the lack of social guarantees in the cultural sector. Questions were raised during the debate regarding the flexibility of financing cultural buildings and the preservation of Kulka's autonomy.
Decisions Made 2
The Isamaa faction proposed adjourning the second reading of Draft Bill 338. The motion failed to gain support (4 in favor, 49 against).
The second reading of Bill 338 was concluded.
Most Active Speaker
The most active politician was Heljo Pikhof, Chairwoman of the Culture Committee, who presented the bill's report and thoroughly answered questions from her colleagues. Pikhof defended the bill's provisions, stressing that creating flexibility in the funding of cultural buildings was not a "back door" but a necessary measure, considering the delays in existing projects and the status of Kulka's financial resources. She also explained at length the change from a creative work allowance to creative work remuneration, emphasizing that this is an essential step in ensuring the social protection of creative people and that it does not reduce the autonomy of the targeted capital funds. Pikhof's position supported the adoption of the bill (a pro-government/leading committee position).
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
The third item on the agenda is the review of the second reading of Draft Act 338, initiated by the Culture Committee, concerning amendments to the Estonian Cultural Endowment Act and the Gambling Tax Act, which will be presented by the Chairman of the Culture Committee, Heljo Pikhof.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
This speech explains the substance of Draft Bill 338, the aim of which is to grant the Council of the Cultural Endowment the right to finance an additional cultural facility, reduce gambling tax allocations from 3.8% to 2% for the purpose of supporting creative work, convert creative work support into creative work remuneration, and ensure social guarantees for freelancers, the autonomy of the targeted endowments, and cooperation with universities in the cultural sector when distributing scholarships.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the rapporteur, invites the audience to submit questions, and asks Tõnis Lukas to respond.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
He stated that additional funds are required for the remuneration of creative work, which will be partially sourced by reallocating funds from other existing activities. The head of the Cultural Endowment confirmed that current activities (such as funding creative work, supporting literature, and others) will receive sufficient financing despite the influx of additional funds. He also supported the construction of the Estonian Public Broadcasting (ERR) building—a project promised by the government and significant in a national cultural context—while simultaneously noting that this would be financed at the expense of the Cultural Endowment, even though an alternative funding mechanism would be introduced.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi expresses his gratitude.
Tõnis Lukas
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The question is whether the access road will only be used for the construction of the ERR building, or if it will remain open in the future as well.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof explains that the funds from the Cultural Endowment have been used according to the initial agreement for paying out stipends (50 stipends, 10,000 euros each). The money has not gone unused, and in the stipends can be increased or expanded in the future. Furthermore, if the grant changes from support to remuneration, there will be no reduction in the amount, but taxes will be applied, which is important for the target group to prevent any misunderstanding.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi suggests that his colleagues ask one question at a time, and he asks Priit Sibul to begin.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
The speaker asks whether the primary objective of the draft bill is to finance the construction of the national broadcaster's television building, why the Culture Committee chose this specific approach, and why the Riigikogu decision of September 13, 2021, "Confirmation of the ranking list for the construction and renovation of nationally important cultural buildings," is not being amended.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The Culture Committee is certain that the ERR building must go ahead, and a clause 'with the approval of the Culture Committee' has been added to the draft bill. This clause permits the inclusion of an additional project for the Cultural Endowment's decision-making only if the necessary funds are available and all payments have been made, but this must not impede the addition of other projects in the future.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi addressed Tanel Kiik with a request.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik supports the draft legislation as a step in the right direction for the cultural sector, and asks whether the Culture Committee discussed the broader issue of social guarantees for creative professionals, including the establishment of universal health insurance.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof stresses that Estonia needs universal health insurance because, in 2022, 5% of the population lacked coverage. This group faces higher medical and healthcare expenses, particularly during epidemics.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi called upon Andre Hanimägi to come and speak.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi stated that the draft legislation is not specifically the ERR building bill, but rather provides the state with flexibility. He added that for a small country, it is crucial to move forward to prevent delays. He then asked what the subsequent process and timeline would be once the law is adopted and the issue of the ERR building is resolved.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof told the committee that ERR representatives are ready to start immediately if the law is amended. The purpose of the draft bill is to grant the council of Kultuurkapital the right to finance one additional cultural building, besides those already on the priority list of nationally important cultural buildings, upon the proposal of the Minister of Culture and with the approval of the Cultural Committee, provided that funding is available. Furthermore, once the newly added building is completed, the next construction project can only be selected after the payments for the previous object have been fully executed, and the order of the priority list must be adhered to.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi calls upon Priit Sibul to speak.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul asks why an additional cultural object is being added via the "back door" method through the draft bill, and why the Riigikogu's 2021 decision couldn't simply be updated, given that nationally important cultural objects have previously been designated by the Riigikogu, whereas the new procedure would grant the right of designation to the Minister of Culture.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof said that the buildings have not gone into operation as planned, and their readiness has been at very different levels. There is currently nothing yet in Narva, the signing of contracts is delayed, this is not a back door, and there are several possibilities. Furthermore, the Culture Committee decided to take the jointly chosen path, which also includes Tõnis Lukas as a member of the Culture Committee.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
As Deputy Chairman, Toomas Kivimägi offered thanks, noted that the questioning period had concluded, opened the floor for debate, and addressed his colleague Signe Kivi with a request.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Speaker Toomas Kivimägi requests that the discussion continue for three more minutes.
Signe Kivi
Profiling Eesti Reformierakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The purpose of the draft bill put forth by the Riigikogu Culture Committee is, in addition to financing nationally important cultural buildings, to enable the funding of yet another significant cultural building and to secure social guarantees for freelance creative individuals, by utilizing the increase in gambling tax revenue and the reserves of the Cultural Endowment for the development of culture.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi thanks Kadri Tali and explains that in this presentation, no distinction is made between factions, and everyone is equal. Furthermore, anyone who wishes to emphasize something specific can do so in their own presentation.
Kadri Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Kadri Tali emphasizes that Estonian culture needs financial mechanisms for growth and wings for creative individuals, not a solution achieved through the social sector or tax-based redistribution. She fears that the draft bill will channel the majority of the funds into taxes and standardized support payments, thereby ignoring the actual needs of creative development on stage.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chair Toomas Kivimägi requested three more minutes for the discussion.
Kadri Tali
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
According to Kadri Tali, the aim in Estonia is to establish a robust financial mechanism for funding culture and sports through public-private cooperation, and to develop a calculator that assesses the potential for attracting private capital, in order to motivate businesses and enable the culture and sports sectors to reach their full potential.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi thanks the audience, and his colleague Tanel Kiik will speak next.
Tanel Kiik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Tanel Kiik supports the bill as a crucial step in social and health policy, stressing the need to pay remuneration for creative work to ensure social guarantees, and expressing hope for the future implementation of universal health insurance.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi said that Priit Sibul is ready because Priit Lomp is currently not visible.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul expressed concern over the establishment of a special regime for financing cultural objects, asking why two alternatives are necessary and why they cannot continue with the simple procedure of funding through Riigikogu decisions and the Cultural Endowment.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Deputy Chairman Toomas Kivimägi requested three more minutes.
Priit Sibul
Profiling Isamaa fraktsioonAI Summary
Priit Sibul emphasized that cultural funding originates from multiple sources beyond just the Riigikogu (Parliament) and the Cultural Endowment (Kultuurkapital). He referenced the plan to establish a 15-million-euro international film complex in Jõhvi using resources from the Just Transition Fund, requested a response from the Auditor General by March, and stressed that when mechanisms differ and new opportunities arise, we must ensure their sustainable funding. Furthermore, the Isamaa faction intends to suspend the second reading of this draft bill.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi says you still have time, thanks sincerely, and addresses Heljo Pikhof with a request.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof emphasized that Estonian music theatre needs a hall with a stage of standard dimensions and suitable acoustics for international co-productions, as the current deficiencies of the Estonia theatre hall limit the repertoire, collaboration opportunities, and the country's cultural influence.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
He is asking for three extra minutes.
Heljo Pikhof
Profiling Sotsiaaldemokraatliku Erakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Heljo Pikhof emphasizes that the national opera must serve as a crucial calling card for Estonian national high culture, and the extension to the Estonia Theatre would increase development opportunities for Estonian singers, dancers, and musicians, elevate the acoustics and staging possibilities to an entirely new level, and create a venue for hosting world-famous orchestras and ballet troupes.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Vice-Chairman Toomas Kivimägi offers his sincere thanks and addresses his colleague, Andre Hanimägi, requesting something.
Andre Hanimägi
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Andre Hanimägi stresses that the construction of the new ERR building is sensible, and the purpose of the draft legislation is to end the decade-long saga that has been draining taxpayer funds, ensuring better working conditions for journalists and the media while avoiding duplication.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Toomas Kivimägi concluded the debate, announced the amendment proposal submitted by the Culture Committee, and called for a vote on the Isamaa faction's motion to suspend the second reading of Draft Act 338, concerning amendments to the Cultural Endowment of Estonia Act and the Gambling Tax Act.
Aseesimees Toomas Kivimägi
AI Summary
Four members of the Riigikogu voted in favor of this proposal, 49 voted against, with 0 abstentions; the proposal failed to gain support, and the second reading of Bill 338 was concluded.