Speaker calls for House reform, ahead of Lisbon Treaty

Speaker Louis Galea yesterday underlined the urgent need to reform Partliament's administrative structures and pledged this would be a priority during his tenure.

Speaking in St George's Square, Valletta, as Malta commemorated the 1919 Sette Giugno bread riots, Dr Galea said reform was necessary since the Lisbon Treaty would place more burdens on the House with respect to EU law-making.

Ireland, the only EU member that is holding a referendum on the treaty, will vote on Thursday. If the Irish say yes, the treaty - aimed at streamlining the institutions of the enlarged EU and replacing the ill-fated EU Constitution - is expected to take effect in January.

Dr Galea said this would mean a need for greater resources so that Parliament and its MPs would make the most of the new rights and duties resulting from EU membership.

Yesterday was Dr Galea's first ceremonial activity outside the House since taking on his new Parliamentary duties and it was also Joseph Muscat's first public appearance as Labour leader.

The Speaker's address was followed by the traditional wreath laying ceremony at the foot of the Sette Giugno monument to honour the four Maltese who had lost their lives in the riots.

Among those laying wreaths were Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, acting opposition leader Charles Mangion, Valletta mayor Paul Borg Olivier, Police Commissioner John Rizzo, Dr Muscat and relatives of the victims.

The 1919 riots are seen as having been the spark which led to the Legislative Assembly - ahead of Parliament, in 1921.