There was a brief uproar in Parliament yesterday when Opposition MP Chris Said and others demanded the Speaker take action against Gozo Minister Anton Refalo.

Dr Refalo had claimed that Nationalist MPs had been known to make sworn statements (affidavits) while knowing they were not telling the truth.

He said he had been vindicated in statements made by Media Link and former Gozo minister Giovanna Debono that it was not he who had called a Gozo Channel ferry back.

Dr Said alleged that on his way out of the chamber, Dr Refalo had more than once mentioned perjury while looking at the Opposition off microphone.

He demanded action from the Speaker to make Dr Refalo mention names.

Government whip Carmelo Abela, on another point of order, said it was standard practice that any action was taken only on words spoken on microphone. If the Opposition insisted on changing this practice, he himself would recall every time Nationalist MPs had insulted Labour MPs.

On another point of order, Opposition deputy leader Mario de Marco said that whether the microphone was on or off, the House was not the place for mud-slinging among MPs. The Speaker defused the situation by stating question time had elapsed.

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