Speaker's vote sees motions through

Two government motions were yesterday carried through Parliament only on the strength of casting votes by the Speaker after amendments proposed by the opposition resulted in a tie, with 32 votes in favour and 32 against.

This is thought to have been the first time since the days of the 1996-1998 Sant administration that the government failed to muster a majority in the House. The government currently has a one-seat majority in the 69-member House. It had a five-seat majority in the previous legislature.

One of the motions was to set up a select committee to discuss the drafting of a law on assisted procreation and the other was to make recommendations on the re-codification of the Laws of Malta.

The government had proposed that the committee on assisted procreation should be chaired by government MP Jean-Pierre Farrugia while the committee on the re-codification of the laws be chaired by government MP Franco Debono. In both cases, the committee members were to be two MPs each from the government and the opposition.

However, Labour MP Anġlu Farrugia moved amendments for the committees to be chaired by the Speaker so that the two sides of the House could then be equally represented by two MPs each.

Backbencher Dr Debono re-turned to the Chamber before the final votes were taken and the motions as proposed by the government were then approved with 33 government votes in favour and 32 against after a vote where, following an opposition request, every MP declared his vote.

The original vote on each amendment was 32 votes for and 32 against, with the government side missing the votes of Resources and Rural Affairs Minister George Pullicino (currently in Brussels) and Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici (in Paris), and Dr Debono. The absent opposition members were Charles Buhagiar and Joe Debono Grech.

Faced by the unusual situation, which he could have solved by simply giving his casting vote, Mr Speaker Louis Galea said he would retire to consider his decision. Opposition MP Anġlu Farrugia immediately reminded him that the opposition's proposed amendments concerned him personally.

When the House reconvened, the Speaker said that as per established procedure, his casting vote must ensure that the motion remain in its original format and leave space for more discussion. It would only pass if it rallied a majority vote. He ruled that the amendment had fallen through.

Opposition MP Alfred Sant asked if there was a precedent of this in the House.

Dr Galea referred back to 1998, in the case of a motion of no confidence. He said he was using the same arguments today.

To another point raised by Dr Sant, Dr Galea said the Speaker's ruling could not be discussed. The standing orders laid down how rulings could be debated. Dr Sant said he was not contesting the ruling, but just requesting a clarification. Mr Speaker ruled him out of order, even because the House was in a stage of voting.

Dr Sant asked that it be put on the record that the clarification he had requested had not been forthcoming.

An amendment moved by Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg, that the committees conclude their work within three months of their appointment, was similarly carried.

The new committees will be headed by Nationalist MPs Jean-Pierre Farrugia and Franco Debono respectively.

Winding up the debate, Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg said the two motions aimed at making better use of parliamentarians. Both committees were technical and could seek expert advice.

The committee on the re-codification of laws had the support of the Justice Unit and the Attorney General. This codification was important for ease of reference and to come in line with the continental model.

Dr Borg stressed the need of regulating the assisted procreation sector while promoting the new scientific techniques to help couples have children. The committee needed the advice of technical experts to be able to produce its report.

Parliamentary work had in-creased so much that he was considering the option of full-time MPs, as had been suggested by Evarist Bartolo (PL).

Parliamentary committees eased part of this work. Other such committees could be appointed.

Earlier, Ċensu Galea (PN) said that the select committee on the codification of laws should propose that parliamentary privileges be repealed.

The House rose for the Christmas recess and will meet again on January 11. The Speaker joined the government and the opposition in wishing the season's greetings to all.