Pullicino Orlando angles for place on the House Business Committee

Former PN backbencher turned independent MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando yesterday tabled a parliamentary motion seeking to become a Member of Parliament’s House Business Committee.

The motion was a direct response to the Government’s determination to forge ahead with the signing of the lease agreement on St Philip’s Hospital and ignore calls by Dr Pullicino Orlando, Nationalist MP Franco Debono and the Opposition to first subject it to more scrutiny.

They want the agreement to be examined by the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee before it is signed.

The Government had exhibited “an unprecedented level of disdain towards the democratic process,” Dr Pullicno Orlando said in a statement announcing his motion.

“I do not feel comfortable being party to this shameful state of affairs without at least attempting to avoid similar situations inthe future.”

The House Business Committee sets Parliament’s agenda. Under current rules it is composed of the Leader of the House, currently Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg, another two members nominated by the Prime Minister and two nominated by the Leader of the Opposition. This means Dr Pullicino is precluded from becoming a member.

Asked whether he was aware of this, he said this was the main reason why he wanted Standing Orders to change.

“This legislature comes to an end only next May and I expect that the rules will be changed to reflect my position as an independent MP in Parliament,” he said.

Sources close to Parliament told The Times yesterday that according to the latest ruling handed down by the Speaker last week, over an Opposition motion to hold an urgent debate on another matter, it would be the prerogative of the Leader of the House to decide whether to put Dr Pullicino Orlando’s motion on the agenda.

The issue, the sources said, would most probably be discussed during the next meeting of the House Business Committee but a date has not yet been set for that meeting.

Asked whether he expected his motion to be debated before other parliamentary business, including the IVF and cohabitation laws and the presentation of the Budget, Dr Pullicno Orlando said: “I would like to continue to work in a coalition with the Government till next year while avoiding the repeat of these embarras-sing situations.”

During the last House Business Committee, Dr Borg had suggested that private members’ business, which includes motions by individual MPs, should be discussed by Parliament on Thursdays from November 8 onwards.