The opposition did not agree with the Parliamentary agenda for this week and the next in retaliation for what it termed as the Leader of the House’s failure to indicate a sitting when the opposition motion on justice and home affairs would be discussed.
Opposition deputy leader Anġlu Farrugia made this declaration during the House Business Committee after the Leader of the House Carm Mifsud Bonnici said he could not indicate a date when such a motion could be discussed because of the prevailing situation in the European Union where ministers were called for urgent meetings in connection with the eurozone.
The minister said that the Prime Minister would have to attend the Council of Ministers’ meeting next Thursday and Friday.
Both Dr Farrugia and opposition whip Joe Mizzi said agreement in the committee had been reached last October with the former Leader of the House Tonio Borg that the opposition’s motion would be discussed before the end of last January. Dr Farrugia said that the committee meetings were futile if the Minister continued with this attitude.
Mr Speaker Michael Frendo said that the committee had always tried to find solutions. Even though the majority had the prerogative one could find a solution when Private Members’ Bills could be discussed. Mr Mizzi said the government was not genuine and was bringing excuses. He quoted from the procedural motion approved by Parliament in February 2009 where the government had found the way on how to solve the problem of ministers and MPs having to attend meetings abroad.
Three weeks ago Dr Mifsud Bonnici himself had said that as yet he had no indication when this motion could be discussed and had now again remarked that the situation would remain the same up to the next two weeks.
Mr Mizzi continued that the opposition was determined to see that Parliamentary rights were upheld.
Dr Mifsud Bonnici replied that despite the fact that ministers had to attend meetings abroad, Parliament continued to discuss Bills. It was the opposition that did not want to consider developments in the EU. He indicated that the House may discuss the constitutional amendment on budgetary governance next week. A resolution on Croatia’s bid for EU membership would also be discussed this week. The Minister also hoped that the discussion on the Education or the Sustainable Development Bills could be concluded by next week.
During next week’s sitting, the Committee would discuss the Ombudsplan.