ABU DHABI // FNC questions for the Minister of Social Affairs were postponed to allow for a long debate on the Child Rights bill.
Members at Tuesday’s session objected to the decision, which was made after a request by the minister, Mariam Al Roumi.
In a letter to the council, she asked that the questions be shelved until the next session to allow enough time to discuss the 72-article bill.
The questions covered the rising trend of women being abandoned by their husbands, using government centres to support disabled and autistic Emiratis, and increasing the number of government nurseries.
Some members said that, based on by-laws governing the work of the council, the minister did not have the right to make such a request.
You “cannot postpone it because you think the law is more of a priority”, said Hamad Al Rahoomi (Dubai). “The FNC decides what its priorities are. Now the questions are piling up.”
Mohammed Al Murr, the FNC Speaker, said the questions would be held for two weeks.
osalem@thenational.ae