Labour MP Marlene Farrugia last night agreed with Nationalist MPs who asked for the Environment Planning Committee to discuss the environment impact assessment of the new Delimara power station.
But Dr Farrugia, who chairs the committee, said she would request a ruling from the Speaker in view of a decision taken by the House Business Committee to refer the debate to the whole House in plenary.
The Speaker, chairman of that committee, had informed her about the decision.
At the opening of the sitting, Opposition MPs had protested that the environment committee was not being allowed to discuss the EIA.
Nationalist MPs George Pullicino and Ryan Callus insisted the committee had previously unanimously agreed to discuss it. The House Business Committee decision the day before was in breach of that agreement.
The difference, Mr Pullicino said, was that in plenary the debate would only be among MPs, whereas within the committee, the members would be able to summon and question experts.
Government MPs countered that there was no need for the committee to discuss the EIA when the subject was also being discussed within Mepa.
Mr Pullicino presented a formal motion for the committee to discuss the power station EIA and the storage of LNG gas next week.
I am the one who most wants this discussion here, but I cannot go against the Speaker’s wishes
During the ensuing discussion, Dr Farrugia said that ever since her appointment, she had stressed it was important for the committee to discuss national issues that impacted the environment. It could not restrict itself to matters presented to it by the government, as had happened in the past.
The Speaker had previously said that apart from discussing issues referred by the government, the committee could discuss general themes. Former speaker Michael Frendo had also ruled any committee member could present items for a general debate.
“I am the one who most wants this discussion here, but I cannot go against the Speaker’s wishes and I will request his decision in writing,” Dr Farrugia said.
Nationalist whip David Agius said it would be a precedent if a committee was not able to regulate its own procedure and agenda.
Carmelo Abela said it would be a dangerous precedent if this committee replaced Mepa.
Dr Farrugia said the new government was transparent and wanted to give a voice to NGOs and experts, but she could not override the Speaker.
“I cannot understand how we can have an environment planning committee which cannot discuss the environmental impact of such a major project,” she said.
The mistakes made in the past, when major projects were not discussed by the committee, and not even in plenary sessions, should not be repeated, she insisted.