Latest news with #HouseofParliament
Finextra
13 hours ago
- Business
- Finextra
New data access bill paves the way for evolution of open banking to open finance
The UK Government has passed the Data (Use and Access) Bill through the House of Parliament, paving the way for expansion of open banking and smart data sharing across multiple business sectors. 0 The legislation is a key lever to support the expansion of open banking beyond payments to a more general open finance model, giving consumers the power to share their data more widely across new use cases in energy, telecoms, transport and retail sectors. This broader vision expands the open-data concept beyond banks to encompass insurance, investments, pensions, and other financial services. One example would be an insurance company offering an overview of existing pension products or the access to loans and deposits data from different banks in one application. The UK Centre for Finance, Innovation and Technology (CFIT) has already built two working prototypes of open finance applications for providing financial advice to vulnerable consumers and to speed up credit assessments for SME loan applications. Other use cases could include the sharing of mortgage data to grease the wheels of the property market and provide the best deals on utility bills. Open Banking Limited CEO Henk Van Hulle comments: 'This is a landmark moment for the sector, but it is just the beginning. Now is the time to turn these foundations into real-world outcomes which empower consumers, drive innovation, and unlock growth. 'Having set the legislative foundations for a smarter, more connected data economy, government, regulators and industry need to come together to make this a reality. The coming months will see important choices made that will frame the type of ecosystem and outcomes we deliver in the years to come.'
Otago Daily Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Tikanga or not tikanga, that is the regulatory review question
The regulations review committee is one of those select committees which does not get the recognition it deserves. Given its role is, as the name implies, to scrutinise the thousands of regulations promulgated by the government annually, it has a reputation for being somewhat esoteric at best and nerdy at worst. However, it is also a good training ground for backbench MPs as they learn the intricacies of the law-making process. It is also interesting for being chaired by Labour's Arena Williams so as to ensure the government is not marking its own homework. Next week, however, the regulations review committee is set to rise from obscurity and take its place in the front lines of the culture war, thanks to Southland National MP Joseph Mooney. At the end of each order paper (the government's daily agenda of business in the House of Parliament) sits the notices of motion section, where any MP can suggest that the House take notice of anything at all. Diamond wedding anniversaries and 100th birthdays often appear, and Dunedin Labour MP Ingrid Leary has one there at the moment: Dutch Week. Added in on April 8 was a notice in Mooney's name that the House disallow two provisions of the Professional Examinations in Law Regulations 2008. (It turns out that any member of regulations review committee can make a notice of motion to strike down a regulation and that it takes effect within 21 sitting days unless otherwise dealt with. Who knew?) So, why is Mooney (a lawyer) so vexed with the examination system he had to pass to qualify to practise? Well, he is not per se — just the bit which the New Zealand Council of Legal Education (NZCLE) added two years ago, coming into effect this year, which requires aspiring lawyers to have completed a new compulsory law course on tikanga Māori, and to have learned "relevant content" on tikanga Māori. This proposal caused quite the stir in legal circles when it first surfaced. The most high-profile dissent was that of Gary Judd KC, who as well as writing extensively on the subject also formally complained to the committee about it last year. Judd does not object to tikanga as such, noting that it is obviously relevant in cases such as those determining customary title to Maori land. However, he does object to "the holus-bolus adoption of tikanga as if it were part of the common law developed by the courts incrementally" and also the requirement for law students to study it, alongside property, criminal, contract and public law. Judd is correct that tikanga is starting to assume a more prominent place in law. Notably it was central to discussion in Takamore v Clarke (the so-called "body snatching" case, when a hapu buried a relative in defiance of the wishes of his immediate family). In 2022 the Supreme Court issued a separate ruling as part of its consideration of the Peter Ellis case as to whether tikanga had a place in law. Their honours decided that it did. This was a development which many lawyers had no quibble with and took in their stride. It was also why the NZCLE amended its regulations feeling, not unreasonably, that given a ruling by the land's highest court it was probably appropriate that people who wished to be admitted as lawyers should possess some knowledge and understanding of tikanga Māori as a core competency. Judd and several other lawyers (notably former Russell McVeagh lawyer Winston Peters) begged to differ however, hence Judd's complaint. The committee, including Mooney, heard Judd's complaint in mid-October last year and it also considered a submission in support of it from Auckland lawyer Thomas Newman, which raised the possibility that standing orders allowed the course of action which Mooney has now embarked upon. The committee, whose membership includes Waitaki National MP Miles Anderson, issued its report in March. The committee found that that the NZCLE regulation did not trespass unduly on personal rights and liberties, that the council did have the power to impose the regulation. However, its three National MPs (the majority) resolved that the regulation was an "unusual and unexpected use" of the council's powers and hence should be disallowed. Judd has had the good luck, from his perspective, that the government has changed since the Ellis judgement. His objections would likely have fallen on stoney ground in 2023, but in 2025 the committee majority was like-minded, Mooney was there to move his notice of motion, and the business committee decided to adopt it as House business. It will be debated the next members' day (this coming Wednesday) and the odds are $1.01 and falling that the motion will be agreed to. The Geraldine insurrection IT turns out that there is another live issue in the southern seats when it comes to the proposed electoral boundaries. We are sure it is nothing personal about Waitaki's MP, but it turns out there are a substantial number of residents in the good town of Geraldine (population 3310) displeased about being in Anderson's electorate. Despite being 38km to the north of the Canterbury town of Timaru — whose territorial authority Geraldine sits in for local government purposes — its voters make their mark at a national level in the Otago seat of Waitaki. Whether from provincial parochialism or administrative practicalities, Geraldine folk are casting longing eyes towards the electorate of Rangitata. Objections to the proposed new boundaries were released last week and several people have so far objected to their place in the world. "I object to being part of the Waitaki electorate when all our services and amenities are in the Rangitata electorate," one voter said, while another noted that Rangitata was under quota and Waitaki was over quota so Geraldine should be allowed to return home, so to speak. The deadline for submissions is May 21, so there is still time for a full-on revolt to break out.
National News
24-04-2025
- Business
- National News
Parliament convenes under Speaker Berri to tackle key financial reforms, Beirut municipality files
NNA – The House of Parliament convened in a legislative session on Thursday, presided over by House Speaker, Nabih Berri, with a 23-item agenda focusing on critical economic, monetary, and livelihood-related draft laws and proposals. Topping the agenda is the draft law submitted under Decree No. 103, which seeks to amend certain provisions of the 1956 Banking Secrecy Law, alongside Article 150 of the Code of Money and Credit—both seen as pivotal steps in Lebanon's financial reform trajectory. Also under discussion are three draft laws concerning the Beirut Municipality, presented on the eve of upcoming municipal and mayoral elections. ============R.H.
Morocco World
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Parliament's House of Representatives to Host 2nd Forum Focused on Africa
Rabat – The House of Representatives will host a forum, convening heads of the foreign affairs committees of African parliaments on Thursday to discuss the challenges Africa is facing. A statement from the House of Parliament said the forum, which is its second edition, is part of the cooperation and efforts of African parliaments to address challenges hampering the continent's development. 'It also reflects the Kingdom of Morocco's commitment, under the wise leadershiphouse of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, to strengthening cooperation and solidarity across the African continent,' the House of Representatives statement said. The House expects the forum to also serve as a hub to consolidate African parliamentary cooperation, dialogue, and consultation to tackle issues related to peace and security. Two main topics will be featured, with the first covering conflict and crisis prevention and the second will cover the financing of these initiatives and ways to continue the continent's development. The first meeting of the forum took place in July 2023, with the final message elevating the unity and integration of the continent. It also stressed the commitment to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of African countries, as well as strengthening African parliamentary cooperation for sustainable development and addressing global challenges. The event's agenda will include Firano Zakaria, a professor and researcher at the Faculty of Legal Economic, and Social Services of Rabat Agdal at the Mohammed V University of Rabat. Additionally, Ali Zerouali, Vice President of the Africa Committee at the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises will also participate in the event. The opening session will include an address by the Speaker of the House Rachid Talbi El Alami. The first hour will also mark an address by Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita, as well as Salma Benaziz, Chair of the Foreign Affairs and National Defense.
