Government holds first meeting of 2014

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili called on the Ministries to have better coordination with each other before initiating law changes. His critical comments were heard today at the first governmental meeting of 2014.

The controversial changes in the Georgian Tax Code had been proposed by the Refugees Ministry. They suggested a correction in the article about financial secret.

Under the proposed changes, the Finance Ministry would be authorized to release information involving a personal finances to the Government, Ministries, police, Public Defender or any other subject defined by the law. This information could released without a court decision or a tax payers permission.

Finance Minister Nodar Khaduri explained there were organisations that needed this kind of information in order to work properly. For example, the Refugees Ministry needed to have information about a particular internally displaced persons financial situation to decide whether they still needed financial support from the state or not, he said.

Prime Minister Garibashvili said: "Whoever needs the information, give it to them; if they do not need it, why would you give it? Discuss the issue with each other first and then initiate changes in the law. Whoever does not feel lazy doing so, everyone proposes law changes..

He also commented on the law about criminal authorities, which has become a serious issue this week after some people said the law needed reconsidered.

The Minister of Corrections, Sozar Subari, said the criminal authorities topic was something they were never going to compromise about.

This did not sit well with the Prime Minister.

"What we know for sure will not be reconsidered and changed, do not think about such things any longer. We are working. We have so many other more important issues, such as economy, to think about. Why do I hear discussions on such a senseless topic? Garibahsvili said.