OSCEs Parlamentariske Forsamling 2019-20
OSCE Alm.del Bilag 23
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Measures regarding Covid-19 emergency
put in place by Italy’s Chamber of deputies
•
For the duration of the COVID-19 emergency, Italy’s Chamber of Deputies has
resolved to limit
the work of the Plenary
mainly to consideration of urgent non-
deferrable bills, with particular regard to bills for the enactment into law of pending
decree laws. The Chamber will also meet in plenary session in case of parliamentary
questions requiring an immediate reply or of urgent interpellations. The purpose of
these arrangements is to maintain constant dialogue with the Government on the
subject of the emergency and to enable the Government to keep Parliament apprised
of developments including through the issuance of urgent information updates and
reports.
•
In order to avoid the simultaneous and prolonged presence on the Floor of the House
of a large number of MPs, parliamentary groups have agreed to reduce the number
of MPs in attendance and adopted appropriate voting methods, such as the roll-call
vote used for the sitting of 31
st
March 2020.
•
The activities of
Committees and other parliamentary bodies
have likewise been
restricted to consideration of urgent non-deferrable acts. In particular, it has been
agreed that Committees shall examine only bills related to items included in the Order
of Business of the House or else bills for which a Committee is acting in a law-making
capacity. In addition, Committees may conduct hearings with Ministers or other
persons or entities whose responsibilities pertain to matters connected with the
emergency. Committees may also convene for purposes of parliamentary scrutiny or
to issue opinions on Government legislative proposals that are nearing expiration and
need to be expedited without delay.
•
Following a decision of the Chamber’s Committee on the Rules of Procedure (sitting
of 31 March 2020),
the possibility has been introduced for Committees to conduct
some of their less formal activities, such as meetings of the Bureau as well as
hearings,
remotely,
by videoconference. These sittings, which need to be
appropriately scheduled to allow for the necessary technical support, must
nonetheless continue to be held in the official premises of the Chamber of Deputies
and must always take place in the presence of the Chair, or Deputy Chair of the
 OSCE, Alm.del - 2019-20 - Bilag 23: Brev fra Hr. Paolo Grimoldi
Committee, along with the Clerk (parliamentary official) to the Committee and any
MPs who wish to attend the sitting in person.
•
To comply with the recommendations of the relevant health authorities, a decision
was taken to have Committees and other parliamentary bodies convene in
larger
meeting and conference rooms,
so that attendees may observe the appropriate
social distancing and respect the rules banning people from gathering at close
quarters. The sittings are also being scheduled so as to leave time for the necessary
sanitation of the conference rooms between one meeting and another.
•
In line with the measures adopted by the Government at a national level, a number
of employees is required to work on site as deemed strictly necessary to ensure the
full functioning of parliamentary bodies and of the Chamber as a whole. The
remaining employees of the Chamber of Deputies are working remotely.