Anġlu Farrugia was approached by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat with an offer to become Speaker only after the election.

Contrary to the impression given in a news report of a radio programme that appeared in another newspaper recently, Dr Farrugia yesterday said he had not met Dr Muscat at an earlier stage.

A former deputy leader of the Labour Party, Dr Farrugia fell out with Dr Muscat in December when he was forced to resign for attributing political motivation to a magistrate’s decree.

Asked about his full-time role as Speaker, Dr Farrugia acknowledged his workload was not dissimilar to that of his part-time predecessor Michael Frendo.

Dr Farrugia said the work that had to be carried out was now being done on a full-time basis. Dr Frendo’s predecessor, Louis Galea, also had a full-time role.

“I am here every morning,” he said when The Times asked about his workload during a press conference in Parliament to unveil the formation of the permanent committees.

During the press briefing, Dr Farrugia said a new permanent parliamentary committee would be created to oversee economic and financial matters. A motion to kick-start the process was presented and will be discussed next week.

There was cross-party support for this committee, which had been suggested by Dr Frendo. Malta was one of a very few EU countries not to have parliamentary scrutiny of economic developments.

Dr Farrugia said the committee would also have power to summon anybody from government organs, including the Central Bank governor, to appear before it.

Sitting alongside Dr Farrugia at the press conference were Government Whip Carmelo Abela and Opposition Whip David Agius, who announced the members sitting on the other permanent committees.

Asked about another suggestion by Dr Frendo for the creation of a petitions committee, Mr Abela said the Government had promised this in its manifesto but talks had not yet started with the Opposition.

Mr Agius said there should not be a problem but the way it will operate required further discussion even within the parliamentary group.

Permanent committee members

House Business Committee/Committee of Privileges:

Chairman: Speaker

Government: Louis Grech, Carmelo Abela and Deborah Schembri.

Opposition: David Agius and Simon Busuttil.

Foreign and European Affairs:

Chairman: Chris Fearne (Gov.)

Government: George Vella, Luciano Busuttil, Marlene Farrugia and Silvio Schembri.

Opposition: Jason Azzopardi, Toni Bezzina, Ryan Callus and Francis Zammit Dimech.

Public Affairs Committee:

Chairman: Tonio Fenech (Opp.)

Government: Konrad Mizzi, Owen Bonnici, Chris Agius and Justyne Caruana.

Opposition: Kristy Debono and Claudio Grech.

Social Affairs Committee

Chairperson: Deborah Schembri (Gov)

Government: Etienne Grech, Silvio Parnis and Joseph M. Sammut

Opposition: Claudette Buttigieg, Robert Cutajar and Marthese Portelli.

Committee for Family Affairs:

Chairman: Anthony Agius Decelis (Gov)

Government: Etienne Grech and Deborah Schembri.

Opposition: Joe Cassar and Paula Mifsud Bonnici.

Consideration of Bills Committee:

Chairman: Luciano Busuttil (Gov)

Members will be appointed by the respective parties depending on the law being discussed.