[Terpelaziun] Technology Minister - August 2022

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Honorable Tuischac'h,

This terpelaziun is for the Technology Minister. Please update the Ziu on any plans and/or progress concerning the prioritization of upgrading and/or replacing the Talossa Database System.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Honorable Tuischac'h,

A response to this terpelaziun is now overdue under Lex H.2.4. This is my reminder that it is outstanding.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

The deadline having passed, with an additional margin of 2 days, then the question is hereby referred to the Seneschal, per H.2.4.

There is further the matter of the penalty provision of the law: "2.7. Failure to answer a question within the given timeframe shall constitute an offence, and a Minister, if found guilty of such a offence, will be subject to a punishment at the discretion of the Courts."

There is no precedent for the application of this penalty, and I invite comment from the questioner and the Seneschal. I will decline to immediately refer it to the courts, since I'm sure a good discussion will be helpful before making any such decision.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

I apologize... The question shall not automatically be referred, upon further review of the law. That only applies if the minister is unavailable, a term which is clearly defined and which does not seem to apply.

I do think it would be helpful to get an answer to the question, either from the minister or the Seneschal, but it does not appear there is any legal obligation at this point.

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

Mr Túischac'h, I was never made aware of this question, by the questioner, the Túischac'h, or the Seneschál, or the Secretary of State. My apologies. I suggest that in future all Terps actually "tag in" the Minister responsible.

But in any case I have to defer this question to the Secretary of State, who has been carrying out this work with cxhn. Martì-Pair Furxhéir. All I can do is sum up the issues:

- the current Database is no longer fit for long term use. It is far too difficult to make changes or updates, for example, to the texts of bills that have already been Clarked; and as we found out last term, it is not even possible to put out a Clark with only the VoC on it, in months when no bills are Clarked.

- the question then becomes, whether to a) upgrade; or (b) totally replace the existing Database. Both are outside the skill set of the Chancery or the Ministry of Technology, so we require on the co-operation of outside experts, like MPF or Bradley Higgs. I should note that cxhn. Higgs is currently working hard on the upgrade to Wittenberg software, which I was given to understand the leadership of the Opposition considered their top priotiy.

- MPF has - without wanting to breach his privacy - a very busy life. And nothing can happen to the existing database without his say-so and input. So - as I understand it - work is proceeding behind the scenes to fully hand over the Database to Chancery control. But that work is going very slowly, and at the pace set by MPF's extra-Talossan commitments.

If any of this is wrong, I invite the SoS to chime in and correct me. This is a quite rushed answer for what, I hope, will now be seen to be understandable reasons. Again, apologies for somehow missing this.

[Miestră Schivă, UrN]

Can I also add - riffing off something from the recent TNC partisan press - that I agree that the Senator from Florencia is doing a splendid job as Leader of the Opposition; just the kind of job he should have been doing last term; and I really hope he continues to do this job in the next Cosa, and the one after that.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Can I also add - that I agree that the Senator from Florencia is doing a splendid job as Leader of the Opposition.

I have eliminated the usual partisan riff from the Minister in my quoted excerpt above. And thank the Minister for her tardy reply and for the compliment.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Thank you for your answer to the question.

There is not and has never been a requirement to "tag" ministers when questioned. While that's a kindness on the part of the questioner, it is not a necessity and doesn't impact the legal requirement to answer Ziu inquiries in a timely fashion.

Per H.2.5, "Having logged into, or visited Witt, or its equivalent, during the seven day period, and having not seen, or ignored the PQ or Terp, shall not constitute being unavailable."

I'd ask MC Tzaracomprada and the Seneschal how they wish to proceed with regards to the Minister's violation of the law. It does seem to have been mere negligence, and not willful at all. I would recommend we just let it go, although given the antagonistic personal remarks the minister has added, I can understand if MC Tzaracomprada disagrees.

[Breneir Tzaracomprada]

Thank you for your answer to the question.

There is not and has never been a requirement to "tag" ministers when questioned. While that's a kindness on the part of the questioner, it is not a necessity and doesn't impact the legal requirement to answer Ziu inquiries in a timely fashion.

Per H.2.5, "Having logged into, or visited Witt, or its equivalent, during the seven day period, and having not seen, or ignored the PQ or Terp, shall not constitute being unavailable."

I'd ask MC Tzaracomprada and the Seneschal how they wish to proceed with regards to the Minister's violation of the law. It does seem to have been mere negligence, and not willful at all. I would recommend we just let it go, although given the antagonistic personal remarks the minister has added, I can understand if MC Tzaracomprada disagrees.

Since this is the first time, I am fine with letting it go, Túischac'h.

[Baron Alexandreu Davinescu]

Very well. Thanks to all.