PAC members can object, demand vote on summoning of witnesses - Speaker

The Speaker of the House ruled this morning that the members of House Committees, including the Public Accounts Committee, could object to the summoning of people to give evidence and could request a vote on the issue.

Speaker Michael Frendo was ruling following a request by the chairman of the PAC, Labour MP Charles Mangion, after objections were made to the summoning of witnesses for the hearing on the power station extension contract.

Dr Frendo, after quoting standing orders, said that in the same way as the members of committees could request a vote on the agenda set by chairmen, they could also object and request a vote on the people summoned by the committee.

He said that the issue of whether or not the PAC could summon witnesses was not dependant on whether the Auditor-General had presented a report on the issue.

Dr Frendo, however, stressed the importance of the PAC for parliamentary democracy and urged the members to act by consensus so that the ultimate aims of the committee were achieved.

The basis for the efficient running of the committees was not the rule book, but common sense and cooperation between the members, Dr Frendo said.

Members of the Opposition had complained last month that giving the government majority on the PAC the right to veto the agenda and the other proceedings of the committee would defeat the purpose of the committee, whose purpose is to monitor and if necessary inquire about public administration.