Committee on Human Rights Fails to Meet Due to Lack of Quorum (2)

Bratislava, 24 November (TASR) – Members of the House human rights and national minorities committee didn't discuss the state's response to the recent tragic fire in Maslickovo on Monday because the committee lacked a quorum. The opposition had requested a discussion on the issue, and state secretaries from the Ministries of Justice and of Labour, Social Affairs and the Family attended the session. Apart from one opposition MP, coalition committee members sent apologies, leaving the committee without a quorum and unable to convene. "Coalition MPs decided to obstruct this committee. We consider it extremely cynical, especially when we were meant to discuss such a fundamental matter and consider preventive measures to avoid similar situations in the future," committee chair Lucia Plavakova (Progressive Slovakia) told reporters. She noted that it wasn't a special emergency session, but a regular meeting. Five opposition MPs attended. The opposition had proposed adopting a resolution in response to the Maslickovo tragedy, calling for compensation for the family whose two young children were killed, as well as the setting up of a crisis fund in case such a tragedy is repeated. Opposition MPs plan to submit the resolution to Parliament. Committee member Vladimira Marcinkova (Freedom and Solidarity) criticised coalition MPs for not attending. "We wanted to ask how we can systematically prevent such tragedies. They used health problems as an excuse," she wrote on social media, adding that the coalition doesn't want to address issues that truly trouble the country. A fire broke out in one of the simple dwellings in the Maslickovo area of Kosice's borough of Lunik IX on 10 November, killing two young children. The blaze spread to several other rough shelters. As part of prevention efforts, the borough plans to cooperate with a fire-safety expert, provide training for residents and secure firewood for the heating season. NOTE: This story has been extended to include the final three paragraphs mf/df