Franco Debono's motion is 'new opportunity for debate' - PM

Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said tonight that he did not view Franco Debono’s private member’s motion on reform of the justice sector and the police as a threat to the government or an act of no confidence.

In his first reaction to Dr Debono’s surprise motion (see http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20111108/local/franco-debono-moves-private-motion-on-justice-the-police.392894) Dr Gonzi said this was another opportunity for discussion and reform.

Some of the aspects mentioned in the bill could be specifically discussed in parliament and others within the Budget debate, Dr Gonzi said.

He was well aware of Dr Debono’s strong views on the subject since the subject was mentioned with him on a number of occasions, and Dr Debono had also written newspaper articles, Dr Gonzi said.

TRANSPORT TASK FORCE

Referring to the new public transport task force, which he will preside, Dr Gonzi said this was not an act of no confidence in Transport Minister Austin Gatt.

Rather this was a demonstration of the importance which the government was giving to this reform, which cut across several sectors which needed to work together..