Interpellation Regarding the Need to Support Large Families (No. 339)
Session: 15th Riigikogu, 3rd session, plenary sitting
Date: 2024-04-08 18:45
Participating Politicians:
Total Speeches: 34
Membership: 15
Agenda Duration: 45m
AI Summaries: 34/34 Speeches (100.0%)
Analysis: Structured Analysis
Politicians Speaking Time
Politicians
Analysis
Summary
This agenda item addressed the interpellation submitted by Riigikogu members Varro Vooglaid and Anti Poolamets on May 13th last year concerning the necessity of supporting large families. The interpellation cited the constitutional obligation and demographic challenges: the preservation of the Estonian nation, language, and culture, and the sustainability of the lineage. The objective was to receive the minister’s response regarding the consistency of recent cuts to large family benefits with the state’s constitutional obligations, and how interpretations of the principle of fairness and the underlying philosophy in family policy have been addressed.
The second part of the discussion focused on relevant economic and employment-related questions: specifically, what extent family and parental benefits and other supports influence the birth rate and the financial well-being of families; how the following issues are addressed—whether and what specific exceptions or additional benefits could be applied to large families, and whether and how the car tax and other levies might impact the daily lives of these families. The Minister responded by emphasizing the significance of budget constraints and the accessibility of social services, and described the parental benefit system and the importance of early childhood education and kindergarten placement for balancing work and family life. Ultimately, it was concluded that no decisions would be made during the debate, and attention would be directed toward development plans and the forms of support offered by local municipalities.
Decisions Made 1
The discussion concluded without specific decisions; the need for further analysis and discussion was identified, and attention was focused on the context of budget and service availability.
Most Active Speaker
The most active participant was the user identified as ehjpLK1FIak, which turned out to be the online handle representing Signe Riisalo, the Minister of Social Protection, in the internet discussion forum. Her political position is right-wing (right-of-center), and she is a member of the Reform Party parliamentary group. She primarily represented the government's views, moderated the debate, and answered numerous questions concerning both the demographic situation and family policy.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The second item on the Riigikogu agenda is the discussion of the interpellation submitted by Varro Vooglaid and Anti Poolamets on May 13th of last year concerning the need for support for large families, and Riigikogu member Varro Vooglaid will appear as the rapporteur.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid stressed in the inquiry that support for large families is a constitutional obligation of the state and crucial for ensuring demographic balance. He then asked Minister Riisalo and Prime Minister Kallas how the recent cuts align with this, how concepts of justice are defined, and which worldview they intend to follow in family policy—the establishment of large families or the reconciliation of work and family life.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Speaker thanks [the previous speaker/group] and invites Minister of Social Protection Signe Riisalo to the Riigikogu rostrum to respond to the interpellation.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
The state is not currently planning to introduce additional support measures specifically for large families. Instead, it is focusing on improving the economic situation of vulnerable and large families through parental benefits, affordable childcare, and early childhood education, as well as by involving local municipalities, to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment for starting a family.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the Minister and says he also has quite a few questions, starting with Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The proposed car tax fails to account for special provisions for disabled individuals or for large families. While additional support measures have been discussed specifically for disabled persons, particularly children, and given that the combination of tax increases and the car tax could push several large families into poverty, the question remains: have further discussions taken place, and have you considered introducing specific exemptions or providing additional subsidies?
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
The car tax bill currently under proceedings in the Riigikogu was drafted by the Ministry of Finance. During the preparation period, negotiations were held with the Chamber of Disabled People regarding potential relief measures, as well as discussions with representatives of large families and their resulting proposals, the further advancement of which falls under the competence of the Riigikogu.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asked for Anti Poolamets to be called upon to speak.
Anti Poolamets
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
Anti Poolamets emphasizes that the increase in child benefits is meager against the backdrop of inflation, and notes that indexation is being avoided. He then asks where the money to increase these benefits should be sourced, accuses the opposing parties of taking funding at the expense of children, and calls for considering whether funds could be taken from abolishing the 'tax hump' to protect the most vulnerable and large families.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that the 2025 budget has a shortfall of 950 million euros, even with a 3% budget deficit, and the costs for pension indexation and family benefits are increasing, which is why he is taking a very conservative approach to spending and is actively looking for areas to save.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar asks Varro Vooglaid to speak.
Varro Vooglaid
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Varro Vooglaid questioned the definition of justice, pointing out that the previous support provided to large families might be unfair. He also raised the issue of funding sources: 180 million euros will be lost with the abolition of the income tax exemption for children, but implementing a bank tax based on the Lithuanian model could generate about 150 million euros annually—how is this considered family-friendly policy?
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that the state does not have sufficient funds or tax revenue to offer new benefits, and therefore difficult cuts must be made, and it must be taken into account that different target groups perceive the sense of justice differently.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Mart Maastik to speak.
Mart Maastik
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Maastik stresses that, in order to halt the nation's demise, the priority should be placed on supporting families who wish to have and raise children, rather than merely addressing the poverty problem through family policy, and asks if you have any other, better solution.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo noted that large families with only one income-earning adult face a higher risk of poverty, and the large family allowance has increased as of 2022. Depending on the number of children, 150 euros per month is paid for families with three to six children, or 250 euros per month for those with seven or more children. At the same time, he emphasized that the state must continue to invest in education, social services, and healthcare, and provide support for children with special needs and rare diseases, regardless of the family type.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar invites Jaak Valge to speak.
Jaak Valge
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Jaak Valge noted that the birth rate in Estonia has fallen the most in recent years compared to neighboring countries, and emphasized that true equality is not achievable without the inclusion of reproductive labor in the paid economy and the reduction of women's heavy workload, referring to a quote by Laurie Penny and asking if the minister agrees with it.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo emphasized that, regardless of gender, conditions must be created where everyone can both start a family and raise children, as well as work or pursue science, and that the burden associated with children often falls on women, which delays the first birth and affects their old-age pension and overall self-fulfillment.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar called upon Henn Põlluaas to speak.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Põlluaas criticizes the government for ignoring the demographic crisis, highlighting the abolition of the Population Minister position and relevant commissions, as well as the increased poverty among families with three or more children, and asks how many meetings of the Population Policy Commission have been held and what was discussed there.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo said that societal attitudes and words influence people's behavior, and the birth of a child should be described in the public sphere as a pleasant, anticipated, and positive event, rather than as falling into poverty risk or the extinction of the nation.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Henn Põlluaas wishes to make a small clarification and notes that the other side also requires an explanation.
Henn Põlluaas
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
He/She said that under your jurisdiction there is a population policy task force (or 'problem commission') or a government commission.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
He has sent the Social Affairs Committee an overview organized by dates and topics. He is hesitant to state the exact number of meetings, or risk being wrong, but he can provide the precise meeting times and topics in writing.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Hussar thanks [the previous speaker/the audience] and invites Helle-Moonika Helme to speak.
Helle-Moonika Helme
Profiling Eesti Konservatiivse Rahvaerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The presentation accuses the minister of slashing benefits for large families upon taking office, and questions whether these cuts stemmed from the mass immigration arriving from Ukraine and why our own large families are suffering as a result, while simultaneously stressing that immigrants are not the underlying reason.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo said that the budget for family benefits and support intended for Ukrainian war refugees constitutes only a few percent, and approximately 60% of adult refugees are in the labor market and are taxpayers. The only exception is the subsistence benefit, whose costs temporarily nearly doubled but are now receding, and the total expenditure remains around 20 million.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman invites Arvo Aller to speak.
Arvo Aller
Profiling Fraktsiooni mittekuuluvad Riigikogu liikmedAI Summary
Arvo Aller notes that the funds will primarily be allocated to fulfilling the most expensive election promise—the income tax reform—amounting to 700–900 million. He mentions potential revenue from the motor vehicle tax and the bank tax, and asks what the government and the ministry's next steps will be for improving the livelihood of large families.
Sotsiaalkaitseminister Signe Riisalo
AI Summary
Riisalo stated that establishing a uniform tax system will cost approximately 450 million euros, and this will allow for a reduction in the tax burden for people earning up to 2,100 euros per month. He noted that this is a positive development for teachers, police officers, social workers, and nurses alike. He added that increasing benefits for large families cannot currently be done due to the state's fiscal capacity, but stressed the importance of ensuring that all families have access to affordable public services, ranging from childcare and healthcare to social and recreational services when needed.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
The Chairman thanks the Minister, states that the questions have concluded, opens the debate, and invites Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart to the Riigikogu rostrum, who requests three minutes of additional time.
Anastassia Kovalenko-Kõlvart
Profiling Eesti Keskerakonna fraktsioonAI Summary
The applicant claims that the government is cutting support for large families, raising taxes (including the car tax and the pension tax), and thereby violating both legal certainty and the requirements of the Constitution and the European Union, doing this primarily before elections to secure funding.
Esimees Lauri Hussar
AI Summary
Chairman Lauri Hussar concludes the debate and the discussion of today's second agenda item, as there are no requests to speak and the minister does not wish to take the floor.