Opposition MPs George Vella and Alfred Sant yesterday accused the government of ignoring Parliament over important issues and said the House was currently being treated as an appendix to the travelling needs of government members.

They were taking part in the debate in second reading of the Bill amending the EU Act.

Piloting the Bill, Foreign Minister Tonio Borg said the Act regulated how changes could become part of a treaty which must be ratified by Parliament. The Prime Minister would issue an order with the treaty annexed. This was discussed by the House Foreign and European Affairs Committee and, if agreed on, the House would take a vote in plenary session without a debate.

But, Dr Borg said, there had been a number of instances where, in spite of this proviso, the House had still debated the issue.

Dr Borg said that in view of this history, in committee stage he would move an amendment that even if agreement was reached in the standing committee, the House could still debate in plenary unless otherwise decided by both sides.

Dr Vella complained that the Foreign Affairs Committee did not have the necessary structures, financial and human resources to scrutinise decisions taken under the European Act.

He also complained that although the AG had given his advice on the Bill to the Minister last November, Dr Borg had only informed the opposition of this in his introductory address.

It was at this point that Dr Sant accused the government of ill-treating Parliament.