The Select Committee on Democratic Change has agreed to made recommendations to Parliament on the appointment of Commissioners for the Investigation of the Administration who would be answerable to the Ombudsman and would investigate alleged maladministration in the public sector.
A preliminary report on the work carried out so far by the Select Committee also shows that progress was made on measures to strengthen Parliament and to modernise the laws on election spending, but no talks have been held yet on public broadcasting and amendments to the Constitution.
The report was tabled this evening by the Speaker, Dr Louis Galea.
WIDER JURISDICTION FOR THE OMBUDSMAN
The committee agreed that in recommendations to the House it would propose that the Ombudsman should have jurisdiction over all agencies, foundations and other bodies set up by the government and there should therefore be only one structure, under the Ombudsman, to investigate complaints of maladministration.
In order to be able to investigate the various areas of the public sector, Commissioners for the Investigation of the Administration would be appointed by the Ombudsman acting on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition. When there was no agreement on the nominations, the nominations would be made directly by the Ombudsman.
The Commissioners would enjoy independence of the Executive in the exercise of their work and would report to the House through the Ombudsman. They would also enjoy immunity from any disciplinary, administrative, civil or criminal action as a result of their duties.
Like the Ombudsman, the Commissions would not have executive powers but would make recommendations on the basis of their findings. The government would be expect to explain itself when recommendations are not implemented.
The University Ombudsman and the Mepa audit officer would be among the new Commissioners.
STRENGTHENING OF PARLIAMENT
The Select Committee said its sub-committee on the strengthening of Parliament was in the process of finalising its report.
The sub-committee on corruption was still discussing principles.
However progress had been made in talks within the sub-committee on the electoral system, including controls over spending by election candidates and political party funding. A public consultation process closes on December 18 and in the New Year the committee will start final talks with the political parties and those who submitted comments.
The Select Committee said it had been handed a document by the government on the creation of Blind Trusts in which ministers and parliamentary secretaries would place their commercial interests and investments.
The committee said it still had to launch its talks on public broadcasting and the revision of the Constitution.