Print

Mail

wiki links

Cabinet postpones approval of leaner government draft

The Cabinet yesterday delayed the approval of revisions to draft amendments aimed at streamlining the government, to allow more time to discuss the bill.

Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) told the weekly Cabinet meeting that he had asked Vice Premier Chiou I-jen (邱義仁) to call a meeting before next Wednesday to discuss the matter.

The Cabinet hopes to debate the proposed amendment again -- and hopefully pass it -- at its next meeting, Chang said.

Under the draft, the Cabinet's agencies would be reduced from 36 to 26, with 14 ministries, seven commissions and five independent institutions

Cabinet Spokesman Shieh Jhy-wey (謝志偉) told a press conference after yesterday's meeting that the utmost caution was needed to deal with the matter because the revisions would have a profound impact on the structure of the government.

Shieh said concerns were raised over several proposals, including whether the the Commission for Hakka Affairs should be merged with the Council of Indigenous Peoples.

Others had questioned the necessity of establishing a new ministry to deal with veterans affairs, while others expressed support for the setup of a gender equality commission.

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has backed the streamlining package and urged the new legislature to approve the revisions before next month's presidential election.

While the proposal under review integrated the views of the last legislature, Chang said the Cabinet would also respect the views of the new legislature.

Based on a 2005 proposal that called for the Executive Yuan to be composed of 13 ministries and four councils, the draft amendments under consideration propose a structure of 14 ministries, seven councils and five independent organizations.

The new measures would add a ministry for veterans' affairs and three other councils -- the National Science Council, the Gender Equality Commission and the Oceans Commission -- to the 2005 proposal.

The draft amendments will be submitted to the Legislative Yuan after the Cabinet approves them.
This story has been viewed 1242 times.