Health Minister Joseph Cassar, who voted against divorce in the referendum, was yesterday the only Cabinet member to vote in favour of the Bill on the second reading.

He was joined by parliamentary secretaries Mario de Marco and Chris Said and nine other Nationalist MPs who all voted in favour.

Explaining the reasoning behind his decision, Dr Cassar said that, ultimately, once the decision had already been taken by the Prime Minister that the vote should pass, he wanted to ensure the best legislation emerged.

“I am in favour as long as certain parameters are respected, namely the guarantee of adequate maintenance for children. I felt the actual law does not reflect children’s rights enough,” he said.

“The reason I voted in favour is so that I can give the committee the chance to be able to make these changes. I believe the changes can be made and, at the end of the day, if they are not done I will vote against on the third reading. If there is goodwill, and I believe there is, it can happen.”

Dr Cassar pointed out that through the Bill before Parliament maintenance and alimony were promised in separation but would not happen if, for example, a person lost his job, adding that this was not acceptable.

“And it shouldn’t be acceptable because people voted for the guarantee of children’s maintenance. The law has to make sure the word ‘guarantee’ gives enough guarantees,” he said, adding that in his experience as a psychiatrist he often witnessed this repeated problem in court.

How did it feel to be the only minister to vote in favour?

“I didn’t want to abstain because I wanted to take a position and I felt that in the present moment... voting against would have continued to stir a lot of commotion in the country, which, at the end of the day, we didn’t need because the decision that divorce legislation will pass was taken,” he said.

“At this stage, we have to make sure we get the best law and that it ensures vulnerable people don’t suffer.”

Asked if he felt his decision would be frowned upon by fellow ministers, Dr Cassar said what had emerged from this debate was a “definite respect for each other’s opinion within our group”.