The AG has no need to explain his actions and does not need to ask for exemption from taking the witness stand unless the government, as his collective client, so decided, the Speaker Anġlu Farrugia ruled yesterday.

As a “super inquiring magistrate”, the AG had special functions reserved for him and was not subject to the direction or control of any other authority, Dr Farrugia said.

The Opposition had requested the ruling during the last Privileges Committee after the government refused to exempt the AG from professional secrecy so he could testify over the case of former European Commissioner John Dalli.

The matter arose when the Opposition asked the AG to table his letter to the Commissioner of Police asking him to investigate the Dalli case.

The committee is investigating a breach-of-privilege complaint by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat against Opposition Leader Simon Busuttil, who accused the government of interference in the police investigation of Mr Dalli.

The Speaker further ruled that documents could be placed before the committee, which would then decide on whether to let them be tabled or not.