Justice Minister Owen Bonnici has criticised the Opposition for being hasty in presenting a private member’s Bill to reform the judicial appointments system.

At a press conference this afternoon, Dr Bonnici said the Opposition’s Bill could not be debated because it was deemed to be a money Bill.

The Opposition cannot propose Bills that have a potential impact on the Budget – money Bills. The Attorney General advised that the proposal tabled by the Opposition was a money Bill.

Dr Bonnici also pointed out that the changes proposed by the Opposition focussed only on judicial appointments and did not take into account suggestions made by the Bonello Commission.

One of the issues, Dr Bonnici pointed out was that while the Bonello Commission had proposed leaving the years of experience a judicial candidate would have had to serve as lawyer as it is today – seven years – the PN was proposing this increase substantially.

Dr Bonnici said the only Bill that would be debated in Parliament was the one put forward by the government that contemplated various changes.

Government wants to entrench the Commission for the Administration of Justice in the Constitution with a two-thirds majority, give the Commission power to discipline members of the judiciary, reform judicial pensions, create a judicial appointments commission to assess candidates and advise the government on appointments.

He denied that the government Bill was tabled now as a result of the controversy that erupted over the nomination of two magistrates.

Dr Bonnici has said that he intends going ahead with Caroline Farrugia Frendo’s appointment to the Bench despite the parliamentary debate on the reform.

A second nominee, Ingrid Zammit Young, withdrew her name after the Commission for the Administration of Justice said she faced a possible impediment given her previous role as chairman of the Employment Commission.