The discussion on the Indivi-dual Investor Programme has not yet delved into the meaning of citizenship.

Citizenship cannot be reduced to a commodity which is bought and sold. It has taken thousands of years for the Maltese people to acquire statehood and such an achievement cannot be thrown away with the stroke of a pen.

Joseph Muscat shows political immaturity by believing that Maltese citizenship can be bought by a foreigner without him or her having any connection to Malta.

Citizenship is the bond between the individual person and the State and there could be no sovereign and independent Malta without citizenship. Muscat has the power to pass the Individual Investor Programme into law on the strength of his nine-seat majority, but the Maltese people have the power to undo this scheme by annulling it in an abrogative referendum.

By granting Maltese citizenship to non-EU nationals, we will be giving them freedom of movement in the EU and unhindered access through the internal borders of the Schengen area with no passport and immigration control.

This is a serious matter and the European media has already criticised us for this. The citizenship issue is also to be discussed in the European Parliament.

I appeal to the government and Opposition to find a compromise on this Individual Investor Programme, one which respects our national dignity.