A call for grandparents to be given a legal right to see their grandchildren was among items heard at the first meeting of parliament's new Petitions Committee on Monday.

The founder of the Grandparents’ Foundation, Philip Chircop, petitioned the House to consider legal procedures to protect the rights of grandparents to see their grandchildren.

Citing cases where parents forbade their children to speak to their grandparents, or simply refused to take them to see them, he spoke of the loneliness felt by grandparents forgotten in their old age and of the unfortunate circumstances which often resulted from the divorce or separation of their children.

The committee also heard petitions by David Cassar and Charles Hartley.

Mr Cassar, who had been involved in a high-profile case seeking damages from
the Church for abuse suffered while he was in the care of St Joseph Home,
requested the Committee to recommend the introduction of harsher penalties against those found guilty of sexual abuse against children from six to 10 years. He also called for harsh fines to be imposed, and for homes and schools to be equipped with CCTV equipment while also carrying out preventive measures and risk assessments.

Mr Hartley, who had formerly been interned at Corradino prison, presented
the Committee with a copy of his police conduct sheet, which ran 10 pages long.

Following his release two years ago, he said, he had tried to find a job but nobody was willing to employ someone with his sort of conduct sheet. Presently, he was being supported by his partner and family in an arrangement which he said could not last forever. Although his mistake had landed him in his present predicament, he asked the committee to consider the possibility of shortening his conduct sheet to a simple statement of his bad conduct, and to establish similar procedures for other inmates who genuinely wished to start a new leaf
following their release. He also suggested that inmates be allowed to work during the last six months of their prison term, enabling them to hit the ground running. 

The petitions will be discussed by the committee members at another meeting.