Prime Minister Joseph Muscat this morning ruled out giving a place to Marlene Farrugia on the House Environment Committee, saying that was not possible in terms of the law as the government had to have a majority on the committee. He said he had no objection to the opposition giving a seat to Dr Farrugia.
In a reaction, Opposition leader Simon Busuttil said in Parliament that Dr Farrugia could be appointed to the committee by agreement or with a change in the law. He also proposed that the government could increase the membership of the committee to seven so that it would have a majority of four while Dr Farrugia could still chair.
This, he said, was similar to what was done in the Public Accounts Committee, where the government has a majority, but not the chairmanship.
Dr Farrugia said she did not want to serve on the committee as an opposition MP but as an independent.
Labour MP Deborah Schembri and Environment Minister Leo Brincat insisted the law should be followed.
Dr Farrugia said the government simply did not want her there, whatever the number of seats on the committee. The ultimate aim of the clan running the government was to enact laws they could then use. The government paid only lip service to the environment, evidenced also by the single NGO appointment to the board of the new Environment Authority.
Godfrey Farrugia (Labour whip and Marlene Farrugia's husband) said that what was being discussed was important but the House needed to continue to debate the Bill before it - on the new Authority.
Marlene Farrugia said she appreciated Godfrey Farrugia's position and his awkward situation but the chairmanship of the committee - by whoever it was - was important if the environment was to be given a strong voice.
Dr Farrugia resigned from the committee on Tuesday when she resigned from the Labour parliamentary group.
NGOS SUPPORT MARLENE FARRUGIA
Three environmental NGOs - FAA, FoE and Ramblers - this morning joined calls for Dr Farrugia to be reappointed to chair the committee.
Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar (FAA), Friends of the Earth Malta and Ramblers Association said they supported Dr Farrugia’s resignation (from the Labour parliamentary group) following government’s refusal to allow greater civil society participation on the board of the new Environment Authority.
"This resignation comes as a breath of fresh air, clearly illustrating that politicians in Malta are able to stand by their conviction and integrity, as opposed to bowing to partisan pressure at every turn."
They said that Dr Farrugia’s express wish to remain a member of the Parliamentary Committee for Environment and Planning should be taken seriously and honoured accordingly, in order to counteract the increased pressures on environment authorities by the development industry and its powerful lobbyists.
"This is the moment of truth for Prime Minister Dr Joseph Muscat’s claims to be truly democratic in all spheres, including environment. The NGOs now call for clear action in exercising that very principle, by retaining Dr Farrugia as chairperson of the said board."
Front Harsien ODZ yesterday expressed its backing to Dr Farrugia. Din L-Art Helwa added its voice in support later today.