MP makes 10 quorum calls

Labour MP Joe Mizzi made 10 calls for quorum during yesterday's sitting of the House of Representatives, costing government MPs at least 50 minutes of speaking time.

Mr Mizzi had warned on Monday that he would be making quorum calls until a ruling by the Speaker which he is contesting was brought before the House.

The Speaker on Monday ruled that Mr Mizzi had committed a prima facie breach of privilege when he said on Wednesday that he agreed with remarks written on a wall that Transport Minister Jesmond Mugliett was corrupt.

Mr Mizzi is also complaining that Mr Mugliett is not replying to supplementary questions he makes during question time. The minister is insisting that supplementary questions should be based on the original question. He also pointed out that he could not always be expected to have all requested information readily available.

A minimum of 15 MPs (out of 65) is needed to form a quorum. The House is suspended for five minutes every time a call for quorum is made and the sitting will then be called off if a count is requested and the minimum number of MPs is not present.

The mood in the House fluctuated between anger and humour during the quorum calls. Notary Tony Abela at one point complained that even Mr Mizzi had walked out of the Chamber after making a quorum call.

Nationalist MP Mario de Marco, who suffered five quorum calls during his 40 minute speech, joked that he had never seen so many MPs in the House during a debate on court warrants while Parliamentary Secretary Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, with a tinge of humour, pleaded with Mr Mizzi to spare him an interruption since they both contest the same electoral district.

Alas, he was not spared.