ABU DHABI // Federal National Council members have been increasingly critical of each other’s work.
At the most recent session, on February 3, members publicly criticised the labour, health and social affairs committee’s report on the labour market, saying it was using data from 2010 and 2011.
They were also critical of the way the report was compiled and with whom the committee had met during its study period.
Marwan bin Ghalita (Dubai) asked why the committee had not used more recent data. Salem Al Ameri (Abu Dhabi) said the most recent figures available were used.
It was not the first time this kind of criticism has been made. Several committees have been publicly put on the spot, with some members rejecting reports completely and calling for them to be sent back for more study.
As healthy as this criticism can be, it is a mystery as to why members wait until the public sessions to air their grievances, embarrassing fellow members.
Reports are sent to all members before the public sessions. If an FNC member had any problems it could be cleared up beforehand, or the member could encourage the committee to make changes.
It is particularly odd because the criticisms take up a lot of time and are made in front of which ever minister is summoned to discuss the findings.
Showing the minister that members are dissatisfied with the committee’s report could give the minister an escape route. He could point out that the data is old and things have changed since the reports were released. This has happened before.
It could also give the minister the impression of internal conflict in the council, or that some members are disrespectful by publicly questioning others’ work. This could influence ministers.
Of course, this is just speculation, but the repeated occurrences do shine a light on the need of the FNC to find new ways to present reports, ensuring all documents meet certain standards.
Perhaps the two elected observers in the FNC should take on this task, or a charter could be drawn up to determine what must be included in reports and what is unacceptable.
The council may face difficulty with obtaining reports, and with outdated statistics from the Government, something members have complained about for years.
But dismissing these outdated reports and making a stand to the Government, demanding more recent data, might just be the answer. Continued pressure could result in change.
The reports produced are crucial and need to be strengthened before public debates to ensure members are equipped with the most recent trends and policies.
This would prevent ministers from declaring that things have already changed, and the members were simply unaware.
osalem@thenational.ae
