The Parliamentary Committee for the Consolidation of Laws has been informed that a proposed new Code of Administratve Law would include provisions which would enable people seek redress before the courts if EU directives were not transposed into national law on time.

Prof Kevin Aquilina, Dean of the Faculty of Laws who has drafted the code, explained that the options currently available to the people were limited, with the best being to complain directly to the EU. In terms of the proposal, people who opt to go to court would not have an obligation to prove juridical interest, he said.

During the meeting, the committee reviewed various aspects of the proposed code.

Towards the end of the meeting, committee chairman Franco Debono welcomed the fact that Justice Minister Chris Said – who was present – was working on his proposal to amalgamate the parliamentary committee with the Law Reform Commission. He said he had discussed the matter with Dr Said over the past few days after having had no reaction from then Justice Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici. Dr Debono thanked Dr Said for his interest.

Dr Debono also welcomed the fact that progress had been made in the process to have parliamentary proceedings video-streamed, which he had long campaigned for.

Cameras have now been installed and testing was in progress.

Dr Debono said he viewed this as a means of taking parliament to the people, an idea which he had mentioned to Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi who subsequently wrote to the Speaker about it.

Our parliamentary correspondent writes that the matter is awaiting the final clearance of the House Business Committee.

During its last meeting on March 6, this committee did not agree that the meeting on the Ombudsplan be video-streamed until the suggested guidelines were reviewed.