A few weeks after Parliament resumed its duties in the wake of the general election held earlier this year, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi tabled a comprehensive resolution for the House to appoint a Select Committee, presided over by the Speaker and consisting of three senior members from each side of the House. The resolution was passed unanimously. It is worthwhile examining what has happened since then.

Basing himself on the President's address at the opening of Parliament, in which he outlined the government's programme, Dr Gonzi laid on the Table of the House a wide-ranging document to improve the conduct of the parliamentary system and to strengthen democratic institutions. The Select Committee has already tabled an interim report, as it was bound to do. The document says that Mr Speaker, Louis Galea, has presented a draft report recommending the way forward to be considered by the Select Committee.

The Committee's terms of reference include ways and means of strengthening the democratic process in Parliament. It also has to examine ways to strengthen the mechanisms for accountability and transparency and propose legislation to cover MPs' conflicts of interest. Another area the Committee has been asked to deal with refers to a review of some aspects of the Constitution, in particular matters related to broadcasting and to the electoral system.

Quite an agenda and if what has been suggested does occur it will mark a massive way forward in our development as a mature, democratic society.

In view of the fact that November was mostly taken up by the parliamentary debate on the estimates for Budget 2009, the Committee is now expected to meet again before Christmas and submit another interim report before the end of the year.

It met once in July and once in August when its members broke down the resolution into three main themes: Parliament, transparency and accountability, and the Constitution, twice in September and twice again in October.

Also in October, one of its meetings was open to the public, which it had invited to attend and to make suggestions and recommendations. Dr Galea went on record to express his disappointment with the poor attendance of the public. Of course, given that the majority of ordinary citizens are not inclined to participate in this form of democratic process, even if they are the first to complain if something covered by the reforms being worked upon were to affect them negatively, one should not expect any massive turn-out but, certainly, a stronger presence of the organised civil society was the least to expect.

The press, which constantly harps on more parliamentary transparency and accountability, a better public broadcasting system and conflicts of interest, must also shoulder some responsibility for not giving more prominence to what the Select Committee has set out to do.

All interested parties, and that includes party political broadcasters, students of and experts in constitutional law, should make it a point to participate in this democratic process.

In the final analysis, this Select Committee will test the political will and determination of the parties involved as to the strengthening of democracy, which a much evolved Maltese society is entitled to.