The government this afternoon amended a section of the Environment Protection Bill which sparked Marlene Farrugia’s resignation on Tuesday. The change was welcomed by Dr Farrugia, although she said she would stay on as an independent MP.
Environment Minister Leo Brincat said the Bill would provide that a member of the board of the new Environment Authority representing environment NGOs would be chosen by the NGOs themselves.
On Tuesday, Shadow Minister Marthese Portelli had moved an amendment proposing that three members on the new Environment Authority’s board be chosen by environment non-governmental organisations.
The government had contested the amendment while saying that it did not have a problem selecting members from NGOs and would give consideration to their views.
This afternoon, Mr Brincat insisted that he had always been of the view that the NGOs should theselves nominate their representative.
The disagreement with the opposition was over the number of such nominees The government remained of the view that one board member should be nominated by the environment NGOs. The Opposition wanted three.
Marlene Farrugia said the minister had originally wanted the government to select the board member who would represent the e-NGOs. Now the government was seeing the light, like the opposition had done before.
Mr Brincat said he had been wrongly quoted, even in sections of the media. The only disagreement was in the number of board members representing the e-NGOs.
Dr Portelli said the Opposition continued to hold the view that three board members should represent the e-NGOs.
Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said the minister was not admitting his u-turn. But why not have three representatives of NGOs instead of one in a board of 10?
Dr Marlene Farrugia said that what the government said on Tuesday was one reason which led to her resignation on Tuesday. The minister should admit he had been mistaken and was changing matters. This would be a major step to show the government would really walk the talk – although she would remain an independent MP.
The Opposition then moved a fresh amendment for three board members to be nominated to the Environment Authority Board by the environment NGOs.
Marlene Farrugia said she was backing the move.
"Three members is what we need," she said.
Addressing the Labour MPs, she said this was their chance to make amends for their mistake on Tuesday. Likening the PL to a sinking person, she said this was their chance to lift it from his hair.
When Labour whip Godfrey Farrugia asked if electronic voting would be introduced, PN whip said David Agius said the system had not been confirmed as fully operational.
Dr Farrugia said this was a very important vote and MPs should (literally) stand and be counted.
This, she said, was a vote for transparency and the environment and against corruption.
Dr Farrugia then proceeded to vote with the Opposition. The Opposition amendment was defeated with 25 in favour and 34 against.