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FINANCIAL COST OF LAW prior to draft approval, discussed at seminar

The second module of the seminar on LEGISLATIONS, organized by the Training Center of Council of Oman, today focused on “Financial Cost of the Law”. Members noted that the seminar has several positive takeaways and will lead to significant outcome.
The training Center of the Council of Oman today initiated a three-day seminar on Legislation, followed by a two-day program for employees of the two Councils. Day one, featured a presentation titled, “Foundations and Rules of the Legislative Process”, which touched on varied aspects relating of the Legislative process. Its purpose was to share information pertaining to legislature process and enhance knowledge and skills of the participants, and discuss and review the processing of draft laws. This will reflect positively on the functioning of the members of the Council of Oman, help to achieve optimally its objectives, its legislative and audit powers as granted by Royal Decree No.39/2011, Article 1. The seminar had the attendance of H.E.Dr.Yahya Bin Mahfoudh Al Manthri, State Council Chairman, Khalid bin Hilal Al Mawali, Majlis Ash’shura Chairman. Also present were, Hon.Dr Al Sheikh Al Khattab Ghalib Ali Al Hinai, Vice Chairman of State Council, Dr.Suad Mohamed Ali Sulaiman Al Lawati, Vice Chairperson of the State Council and Mohammed bin Abu Bhacker Al Ghassani, Vice Chairman of Majlis Ash’shura and a number of honored members from the State Council and Majlis Ash’shura, H.E.Dr.Khalid bin Salim Al Saeedi, Secretary-General of the State Council and Sheikh Ali bin Nasser Al Mahrouqi, Majlis Ash’shura Chairman. Prof.Ali Sayed Ahmed El Sawi, Professor of Political Science at Cairo University, and the Parliamentary Development Consultant in the United Nations, delivered the presentation. HE Sheikh Ali bin Nasser Al-Mahrouqi, Secretary General of the Majlis Ash’shura, in his speech pointed out that the organization of this seminar identifies the commonalities in the strategies of contemporary parliamentary work and the legislative cycle. It will discuss the concepts and rules of procedures and scientific practices, identify some successful experiences in contemporary parliamentary work, and adopt them to promote and develop the work of the Council. For his part, Ali Sayed Ahmed El Sawi Professor Ali Al-Sawy, spoke about the importance of organizing such seminars in the legislative field and pointed out that the program provides an opportunity to exchange knowledge and experience between members of the State Council and Majlis Ash’shura. He added that the seminar highlights new topics in the parliamentary work at the Arab and international levels, as well as reviews some of the modern practices and customs used in a number of parliaments globally. The Day one of the seminar witnessed active interaction by the participating members. The seminar dealt with the process of examining and reviewing the draft laws submitted by the government, as well as the suggestions made by the Majlis Ash’shura to enact new laws and amendments to the laws in force. The legislative life cycle of the Sultanate was also discussed, beginning with its transfer from the government to the Majlis Ash’shura and the State Council. The program also discussed the methodology of legislative auditing, both in terms of the validity of the form and the integrity of the procedures. The lecturer stressed that the members of the Council of Oman should take into account when reviewing the draft law, the extent of its compatibility with the statute and its association with the public policy of the state. The regulatory tools, the rules of the protocol and the representation of the Council in international parliaments were also addressed. Extensive discussions were held during the program, most of which focused on legislative drafting specifications in the legal text, legal frameworks regulating the Council's relationship with other authorities, steps and procedures followed, mechanisms for joint meetings of the two chambers, common provisions and binding groups of internal regulations.