Transport Minister Joe Mizzi’s decision to show up in casual attire in Parliament on Tuesday highlights the need for a strict dress code, parliamentarians believe.

MPs laughed heartily when Mr Mizzi walked into the chamber wearing a baggy T-shirt and casual trousers.

He had left the House earlier to attend to a serious medical emergency involving a member of his immediate family. He returned later to vote on the planning authority’s annual financial allocation.

Nationalist MP Ċensu Galea, who was acting Speaker at the time, said he too laughed when he first saw Mr Mizzi enter the House but could not take any action against him. “The thought of asking Mr Mizzi to leave for a moment had crossed my mind but there is nothing in the rules stipulating what you should wear, so there was little I could do,” he said.

MPs’ conduct is governed by a list of standing orders and, last month, Speaker Anġlu Farrugia, said he would apply long-sidelined measures to rein in unruly MPs following a number of noisy sittings.

What I chose to look at is the honourable act of attending Parliament despite facing a difficult personal situation

The standing orders, however, say close to nothing about what MPs should wear in the House and only demand they should be “uncovered”, a reference to the days when men wore hats and women veils.

Mr Galea said he believed MPs should be made to wear a jacket and tie at all times.

Government Whip Godfrey Farrugia said he felt that donning “smart” wear rather than formal clothing should suffice.

He said he had highlighted the need for a dress code in the past and the government had drafted plans, included in a list of amendments to the standing orders.

Still, Dr Farrugia strongly defended Mr Mizzi’s conduct, insisting the minister’s attendance despite a serious family emergency had exhibited a deep commitment to Parliament.

“You could look at the fact that he was wearing a T-shirt but what I chose to look at is the honourable act of attending Parliament despite facing a difficult personal situation,” he said, later conceding that Mr Mizzi would have done well to change into a shirt.

Nationalist Party whip David Agius also agreed that the incident had highlighted the need for a dress code to be introduced.

He too believes MPs should be dressed smart and said he had taken it upon himself to ensure that the Opposition’s parliamentary group looked the part.

“It’s my job as Whip to make sure that the group is in order. This is true about conduct as it is about attire; you should dress appropriately,” he said.

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