Updated 3.24 p.m.
An urgent meeting of the Nationalist Party's parliamentary group ended at about 3.15 after discussing the divorce debate in Parliament and the Opposition motion on ministers' pay, which is due to be debated in the House this week.
Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando, who was among the first to leave, said there had been a frank and open discussion where everyone was given the opportunity to express his view. He did not give details, however.
Informed sources said the discussion had focused on the divorce issue and the group agreed to set up a committee to discuss any possible amendments.
"The discussion on the way forward was quite positive," a source said.
The discussion on the salaries issue was described as being 'lively', with some MPs complainign about secrecy which had surrounded the issue.
Former minister Jesmond Mugliett said his questions on the matter had been answered "to a point".
Before the meeting, Dr Pullicino Orlando said that there was “worrying” political discourse being used within the PN parliamentary group, with some MPs arguing that because of their conscience they would be obliged to go against the will of the people expressed democratically in the divorce referendum.
He said this was a very dangerous concept and also anti-democratic.
In what appeared to be a reference to the ministerial salaries, Dr Pullicino Orlando said: “What is interesting is that there are some people who feel their conscience only when they discuss divorce.”
However he refused to comment directly on the ministerial raise issue.
Opposition leader Joseph Muscat said yesterday that the Saturday vote on ministerial pay was an issue of conscience and MPs should translate their concerns into fact by voting for the Opposition motion.
Beppe Fenech Adami said he would vote according to his conscience against divorce. He did not say how he would vote on the ministerial pay.
Asked if he would vote with his conscience on ministers' pay, Dr Fenech Adami said he also voted according to his consicence.
Jean Pierre Farrugia, who had publicly expressed his misgivings on ministerial pay, confirmed that ministerial pay would be discussed in the PN group meeting. He reiterated he would vote against the Opposition motion, since it was mostly focused on the fact that the Opposition leader and the Speaker did not get the raise.
He said he was against all raises, but the Opposition leader now appeared to have changed his mind.
MUGLIETT UNDECIDED
Former Minister Jesmond Mugliett when asked whether he would vote according to his conscience on ministers' salaries, said that he wanted to see how the discussion within the party shaped up and he wanted to see the final position before deciding.
He said he intended to ask questions on this issue, particularly with regard to justification and the position with regard to the leader of the opposition and the Speaker.
Former President and Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami said yesterday that MPs should “stand up and be counted” when it comes to the divorce Bill and vote according to their conscience.
Writing in The Sunday Times, Dr Fenech Adami says that unlike political issues such as EU membership – which was subject to a referendum in 2003 – divorce should not be decided on the principle of “democratic majorities but, rather, on the principle of what is morally right”.
Infrastructure Minister Austin Gatt, who was the first to declare that he would follow his conscience and vote against divorce in Parliament, is not attending the PN group meeting as he is abroad.