The Opposition this evening requested direct broadcast on television of next Monday's parliamentary debate on the building of the new power station. The government disagreed and the request was rejected. 

Monday's debate will be held on a motion moved by the Opposition after the government said the building of the new power station had been delayed.

The request for the broadcasting of the sitting was made by Opposition deputy leader Mario de Marco who noted that during a discussion in the House Business Committee it was agreed that once Parliament moved to the new House, all sittings would be filmed.

Although parliament had not moved, he saw no problem in the debate being broadcast once there was agreement on televised sittings. Dr de Marco also noted that the government whip in e-mail exchanges had not said ‘no’ to the broadcasting of Monday’s debate, but it was not the practice.

Deborah Schembri, deputy whip for the government, said the House Business Committee had spoken in general, not specific terms. She said the government side disagreed with broadcasting Monday’s debate on TV.

Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech said that while the government was not against the broadcast in principle, one should not create a departure from practice and an exception on Monday. The idea was for all sittings to be eventually broadcast.

Dr de Marco said this could be an experiment for the future.

Dr Schembri confirmed that the government disagreed with having the sitting broadcast.

Dr de Marco requested a ruling.The Speaker, Anglu Farrugia, said standing orders only provided for direct broadcast on radio.

PN REACTION

In a reaction, the Nationalist Party said today's decision reflected lack of transparency by the government. This was the same government which had not published the contract with Electrogas to build the new power station and the contract with the Chinese to buy a stake in Enemalta.

It had also hidden the sale of the Petroleum Division.