Giovanni Kessler, the director-general of Olaf, the EU anti-fraud agency, did not show up for a meeting of the House Privileges Committee this evening

The Speaker said Dr Kessler was notified yesterday afternoon to appear before the committee but he replied today that he had not been granted authorisation by the European Commission to take part.

The committee is considering a complaint by the prime minister against the leader of the opposition after Dr Busuttil claimed that the government had interfered with the police to stop investigations against John Dalli.

The Speaker, Anglu Farrugia, read a letter by the European Commission refusing authorisation (see pdf below). He said he disagreed with the claim by the commission that authorisation was being refused because of short notice, given that the committee had been corresponding with Dr Kessler since September. 

Chris Said (PN) said a formal request should now be made to the Commission for Dr Kessler to appear before the Committee. The committee should also consider a letter which Dr Kessler wrote to the committee in July and the evidence he gave in court this morning. 

Tourism Minister Edward Zammit Lewis said the government had no problem about Dr Kessler appearing before the committee. The government reserved its position about the evidence which Dr Kessler had given in court since it still had to be considered.

The committee agreed that the commission will be asked to authorise Dr Kessler's appearance.

Dr Said amid interruptions, insisted that the government should lift its ban on the Attorney General testifying before the committee. He said the government's refusal  to let the AG testify indicated that there had been communication with him. Otherwise, there would not have been need for such a ban. That, he said, proved the Opposition's case. 

Follow the committee meeting below.