On 4/10/2023 the House of Representatives held its nineteenth session of the second legislative term of the second legislative year of the fifth electoral cycle, headed by Muhammad Al-Halbousi, in the presence of (202)   Representatives , and the session included:

-Voting on the draft law on the second amendment to the Law of Scientific and Consulting Services Offices in Higher Education and Scientific Research Institutions No. (7) of 1997 submitted by the Higher Education and Scientific Research Committee. 

-The House read out a statement on the National Day of the Republic of Iraq’ occasion, recalling the honorable positions of Iraq on many humanitarian issues, including the Palestinian cause.

-The House addressed an oral question to Mrs. Hiam Al-Yasiri Minister of Communications, at the request of Representative Hanan Al-Fatlawi. 

-Representative Al-Fatlawi inquired about the reasons for banning the Telegram application in Iraq, which is incompatible with freedom of expression and democracy, the economic damage caused by the sudden ban decision, and the measures taken by the ministry to reduce the damage to the segments benefiting from the digital economy sector dependent on the Telegram application and whether there is an official letter to that effect. 

- In response to the question the Minister indicated that the ban on the application came under the direct guidance of the Prime Minister  and the role of the Ministry is limited to the implementation of the order only, and the directives of the Prime Minister are taken into account, whether  verbally  or in official letters, as for the economic aspects, they are the competence of the Media and Communications Commission .

-Representative Hanan Al-Fatlawi inquired about the ministry's initiation of contracting procedures with the Saudi Company (stc) to pass international capacities through Iraq (transit) and give it great privileges at the expense of similar contracts for Iraqi companies. 

-The Minister of Communications denied the existence of any contractual procedures in this regard, noting that the contract so far includes a preliminary approval by us for the purpose of connecting the submarine cable to the city of Faw. 

-Representative Al - Fatlawi asked  about the basis for the existence of a technical and economic feasibility study prepared by a specialized committee for your decision to adopt the satellite Internet with the existence of optical networks linking all Iraqi cities and sufficiently to cover the needs of consumers in Iraq. 

-The Minister stressed the existence of an economic and technical feasibility study that was submitted to the Prime Minister and the formation of a specialized committee to study it and take the appropriate decision. 

-inquired about the foundations and mechanisms adopted by your decisions to change, transfer and exempt middle and lower administrations and work in a manner of mass total exclusion of approximately 500 employees in the departments of the ministry.

-The Minister denied the existence of administrative decisions to dismiss any employee, but rather administrative changes by orders of the directorates and administrative decisions after their re-evaluation according to the general interest of the Ministry. 

-His Excellency the Speaker of the House directed the Parliamentary Transport and Communications Committee to address the Ministry to provide the House of Representatives with all detailed priorities related to this regard.

-Representative al-Fatlawi asked about the validity of the ministry's threat to companies that resort to the judiciary not to deal with them at all, according to circular No. 19/4523 on 7/12/2022, as the right to litigation is guaranteed by the constitution. 

-The Minister indicated that the method used by us in resolving the dispute with private sector companies and according to the principle of contracts is to negotiate amicably and encourage them to sit down and understand before resorting to the judiciary. 

-Representative Hanan Al-Fatlawi asked a question about the reason for issuing decisions and policies without a feasibility study and canceling them after a short period, such as (the issue of subsidized subscription).

-The Minister stressed that there are feasibility studies issued by the Board of Directors, but that any study or policy is subject to evaluation, explaining that after three months of evaluation, it was found that the subsidized subscription did not achieve the required goal.

-The Speaker of the House thanked Representative Hanan Al- Fatlawi and the Minister of Communications for their commitment to democratic and constitutional practices, calling on the Ministry of Communications to attract new qualified companies in the field of Internet service and not monopolize them from companies themselves.

After that, it was decided to adjourn the session until tomorrow, Thursday