The Nationalist Party is willing to enter into discussions with the Government on strengthening the judiciary, the party’s spokesman for the sector, Beppe Fenech Adami, has said.

Dr Fenech Adami said the PN was making itself available to discuss alternative systems to appoint members of the judiciary, as well as to set up a “mechanism” that would ensure the curbing of abuse.

He was reacting to the recent report presented to Justice Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici by a judicial reform commission headed by former European Court of Human Rights judge Giovanni Bonello.

Dr Fenech Adami stressed the PN would look at any suggestion aimed at making the administration of justice more efficient and transparent.

All stakeholders should be consulted, he said, including the judiciary, lawyers and court workers in any way involved in the administration of justice.

However, he noted that the report made a number of proposals that were put forward by the PN administration but were never supported by the Labour opposition of the time.

Dr Bonello has said the 112-page report is meant to provoke discussion. Dr Bonnici set up the commission soon after the election, giving it a mandate to propose reforms to the justice system.

A second report with specific recommendations for reform in the various court branches is expected by July.

A public consultation exercise will be held and a final list of proposals drawn up by October.