On June 11, 2015, the NGO “Center for Civil Involvement” held a meeting  in Tbilisi discussing the research on the parliament session attendance statistics by the MPs of the eighth convocation. Young Barristers, along with the other  NGOs – “Position” and “Youth Center – Our Generation 1921” were invited to participate in  the discussion.

The monitoring revealed, that  in most cases, parliament sessions are not attended by the MPs due to family conditions.

The participants of the discussion considered factual and legal grounds of the problem. They have one more time emphasized an importance of  eliminating  the ugly practice of absences, without reasonable excuse during the sessions and committee hearings for the development of the parliament activities.

Relevant amendments to be made in the Rules of Procedures of the Parliament was considered as a way to improve the situation. In particular, the status - family conditions should be clarified and it may serve sufficient reason for absence, only in 3 possible occasions: family member death, wife’s childbirth and serious illness of a family member.  It would be preferable, to stop 20% (10% according to the current edition) out of the MP’s   wage in case of absences without reasonable excuse, which would be transferred to the vulnerable population or to other charity purposes.