The House of Representatives will decide the political fate of Transport Minister Austin Gatt today when it votes on an Opposition no confidence motion in the minister. The debate continues up to 8 p.m. It can be heard on FM106.6. The following is a blow-by-blow account in real time.
8.07 p.m. House is adjourned.
8.06 p.m. Speaker gives ruling on his casting vote. He says that according to precedents and supported by Parliamentary practice as noted in the Erskine May, his vote was against the motion.
8.05 p.m. Franco Debono is the only candidate to abstain. Vote result 34 for, 34 against, one abstention.
8.02 p.m. Names of those voting for are now being called.
8.01 p.m. Names of those voting in favour of motion are being called.
8 p.m. Franco Debono says he will be voting according to conscience and to the oath he had taken.
7.56 p.m. Speaker Michael Frendo explains procedure to be taken for vote. Members in favour will first be asked to stand, followed by those against and then those abstaining.
7.54 p.m. Joseph Muscat concludes speech. Mr Speaker suspends House for a few minutes.
7.50 p.m. Joseph Muscat says it seems the Prime Minister is hostage to the situation, not to say the individual. At a time of crisis, he is only focused on how to solve the problems within his party.
7.45 p.m. Joseph Muscat says responsibility is not being shouldered because neither the minister nor his officials had resigned. He says strategic mistakes had been made. These included the scaling down of the Valletta terminus which is now expanding once again.
7.33 p.m. Joseph Muscat says there is still a pending issue with the EU regarding fares.
7.25 p.m. Opposition leader Joseph Muscat says that whatever happens tonight, the government knows it has a problem. The problem is not Franco Debono but Lawrence Gonzi.
7.20 p.m. Austin Gatt says that in this legislature he has faced four votes of no confidence and six votes of censorship. He says he is strengthened by the Prime Minister's confidence and support, the confidence of the Parliamentary Group and that of the party's roots. He says although he is retiring from politics, he will not stop fighting till the very end.
7.16 p.m. Austin Gatt says Arriva's challenge is of punctuality and regularity. He says there are problems on 14 out of 71 routes, mostly in the mornings. Arriva needs to manage the system better on the road and the ticketing system is not spread enough - bus tickets are now also being sold from post offices.
7.11 p.m. Austin Gatt says the fact that the interchange system was not liked did not mean there should have been resignations. So he did not accept those offered to him from TM's chairman, the head of his secretariat and the technical officers.
7.05 p.m. Austin Gatt says that to have kept old system and added onto it would have meant paying more subsidy and doubling the fares.
6.59 p.m. Austin Gatt says the routes were drawn up by a technical Transport Malta team whose members had degrees in transport together with Halcrow Consultants.
6.57 p.m. Austin Gatt says it was too much to expect to change a 40 year culture in four months. He says that in three months Arriva received 16,400 complaints when it carries an average of 62,000 people a day. 68 per cent were on the service provided by Arriva.
6.53 p.m. Austin Gatt says that bus stops have been increased by 700. He says the last subsidy paid to former owners was 9.6 million euros, now paying Arriva 4.7 million euros.
6.48 p.m. Austin Gatt says the difference in the service can be felt especially in Gozo where the reform has been a major success. Can it be a coincidence that the Opposition's MPs did not speak during the debate, he asks.
6.41 p.m. Austin Gatt says interchanges would have been accepted more had Arriva given a good service as from day one. The fact that 182 drivers did not turn up for work in the first week did not help. He said Malta probably has the newest bus fleet in Europe if not the world. The average age of buses is one year.
6.37 p.m. Austin Gatt says the foreign experts and the former owners, who acted as their consultants, never told the government the routes or waiting time were impossible.
6.33 p.m. Austin Gatt says there is a contract after 40 years which establishes routes, maximum waiting time, fares, subsidy and fines.
6.28 p.m. Austin Gatt says the Opposition agreed with the government that the preparations for the reform were good because it did not oppose anything before July 3.
6.25 p.m. Austin Gatt says 51 entities were consulted. All councils were sent a CD with all the information, including the route network and bus stop names, but only eight replied.
6.22 p.m. Austin Gatt says bus owners were compensated the amount saved in subsidy and a new fleet of Euro V buses was brought over.
6.20 p.m. Transport Minister Austin Gatt says that in 11 hours of debate not one proposal has been made by the Opposition.
6.10 p.m. Joe Mizzi, PL, says cabinet is dishonest and disloyal. Labour’s motion reflects what the people are feeling, which is that the minister should resign. The whole cabinet should resign if they have collective responsibility. Mr Mizzi said this episode also reflected Transport Malta's failure as a regulator.
5.59 p.m. Dr Gonzi says responsibility should be shouldered by cabinet as a whole and not by Dr Gatt on his own because the reform challenge was the whole cabinet's. He says cabinet admits more improvements need to be made to the system. The government is determined to carry out the reform. He says he had not accepted Dr Gatt's resignation offer because it was cabinet's responsibility to see that the reform, which is a work in progress, is successful. Dr Gonzi says he had proposed the setting up of a joint committee to oversee the reform but opposition did not accept the offer.
5.57 p.m. Dr Gonzi says that the motion is not representing the facts. The government acknowledges there are problems and it is dealing with them. It is constantly updating the system and for doing this it is getting flak. He says he shoulders responsibility as Prime Minister.
5.54 p.m. Dr Gonzi says that no member of the opposition referred to Labour's motion. The motion does not say that the whole bus fleet is low floor facilitating accessibility to the elderly, disabled and people carrying children or heavy burdens.
5.50 p.m. PM Lawrence Gonzi says the reform is not a project of just one minister but of the whole government. He assumes responsibility for service.
5.40 p.m. Anthony Zammit (PL) said Transport Minister Austin Gatt had taken the people for a ride, pun intended. He had raised people's expectations, and the higher they were raised, the bigger the disappointment. It was unacceptable that the funds paid to the consultants were not being recouped. Prof Zammit complained that some buses were disembarking passengers too far away from Mater Dei gate and some elderly people had to walk almost 1km.
5.37 p.m. Censu Galea (PN) said public transport was a vital service and changes to the service would continue to be made as necessary. This reform was in keeping with the PN electoral programme. In contrast, the PL's electoral programme contained just half a line saying that public transport would be strengthened.
5.25 p.m. George Vella (PL) observed that even Austin Gatt had offered to resign, because he realised the confusion which his decisions had caused. But the prime minister had refused the resignation. Dr Gatt had paid good money to consultants who had then ridiculed him, people who probably never boarded a bus. Dr Gatt probably also offered to resign because he too felt the people's hardship. He must have felt embarrassed having to make change after change to the new system. Dr Gatt had realised the damage caused to tourism and the insult made to Maltese migrants who were charged higher fares than fellow Maltese. The minister must had seen the traffic congestion which the reform has caused.
Dr Gatt was therefore right to offer his resignation. It was the prime minister who was irresponsible not to accept the resignation, and this refusal should be explained. Such resignations were common in Europe when ministers erred and there were instances when such people then went on to serve in other posts, Dr Vella said.
5.16 p.m. Parliamentary Secretary Jason Azzopardi said the opposition motion was dishonest. Although problems remained in the bus service and the government was determined to solve them, some of the comments made were exaggerated, particularly when MPs claimed that no services existed, when they did. But was needed in this debate was realism. After all, only four months had passed since a 40-year-old system was changed.
5.03 Labour MP Helena Dalli said it was not seriousness to plan a reform for three years and then deliver a flop, and spend thousands of euros on consultancy work. It was no excuse for Arriva to claim it had not known about traffic congestion in Malta. How low could one sink? Mr Martin, the Arriva CEO had defended Dr Gatt. But did anyone really expect him to bite the hand which feeds him. The Labour MP underlined the hardship which the failure of the reform is causing, notably traffic congestion which is disrupting many people's schedules.
4.57 p.m. Nationalist MP Francis Zammit Dimech said that after the 11-hour debate the people would be none the wiser of Labour's policy on public transport. Its only purpose in life was to oppose, rather than to contribute. The opposition was but an armchair critic. Dr Zammit Dimech said for the future he expected courage to ensure that everyone did his duties and the people were given the bus service they expected.
4.51 p.m. Charles Mangion, PL, says that the government should recover the money that had been spent on consultation. The government was given bad advice and should see that the monies are refunded. The Labour MP said this motion was timely and motivated by the need to safeguard commuters and stop arrogance.
4.45 p.m. Frederick Azzopardi, PN, says the reform had been necessary as besides improving the service it was also intended to improve air quality. No one can deny the fact that the number of passengers using the service has increased drastically and this is an indicator that the service has attracted new clients, especially in Gozo.
4.38 p.m. Gavin Gulia, PL, says the reform has failed, at least when it came to routes and this can be seen from the changes being made. The system was introduced in summer and it was the worst advert possible for the tourism industry.
4.25 p.m. Parliamentary Secretary Mario de Marco says the old system was fossilised with some of the buses being older than the oldest MP, the system promoted inefficiency and a culture of subsidies. It also greatly contributed to pollution. It had been unsustainable and had to be completely changed. It did not serve the needs of the Maltese or tourists.
The new system but no one had complained about the routes, which had been made known from before the system started. The reform was a process of renewal and he had full confidence in Minister Gatt.
4.18 p.m. Roderick Galdes, PL, notes there are no facilities at the Marsa Park and Ride and the people are frustrated with the service. The reform cost more than €50 million and the people have stopped using Floriana Park and Ride because of the exorbitant fees.
4.07 p.m. Michael Gonzi, PN, says the interchange concept has been mentioned in the Halcrow report since 2005. During a consultation meeting, the minister had said that the reform’s final aim was geared to benefit commuters and the country. He had said that the proposals were not cast in stone and could be fine-tuned.
He says it took his children 1 hour 15 minutes to get from St Paul’s Bay to University. This problem is now being solved with a direct link.
3.58 p.m. Joe Debono Grech, PL, says when he became minister of transport in 1996 he had not found any funds allocated for the new buses that the Nationalist government had promised them.
The new system has confused the people and stagnated traffic. He proposed the organisation of a bus to Mount Carmel Hospital saying the new system will be sending everybody there.
The government, Mr Debono Grech says, made the mistake of taking the advice of people who did not know anything about public transport.
3.45 p.m. Gozo minister Giovanna Debono says the service in Gozo now is much better than it had been prior to the reform. The service is being provided by more comfortable and accessible buses for longer hours and much more frequently.
3.37 p.m. Michael Farrugia, PL, says that although it is positive that the new buses produce lower emissions, the government is at the same time, increasing emissions through the development of a power station extension which operates on heavy fuel oil.
The reform, which cost millions of euros, is another in the list of the government’s failed projects which include the shipyards and Smart City.
He hoped the changes will not eventually lead to higher tariffs.
3.31 p.m. Stephen Spiteri, PN, says there are problems in the system but they are being tackled. Routes to university and hospital are being increased. The system has to be become one that is used by more people leading to a reduction in traffic and pollution.
3.20 p.m. Jose Herrera, PL, says that in recent years, more MPs started being reaffirming the principle of the sovereignty of Parliament which had been forgotten. The government’s backbench now more mature and the result of this is that Parliament’s sovereignty and authority has been strengthened. Governments, he said, cannot take their backbench forgranted.
3.10 p.m. Edwin Vassallo, PN, says the vote being requested by the opposition is one against the minister and not for a better transport service. The opposition knows that in a few days the reform will be the success everyone expected it to be.
3.01 p.m. Anthony Agius Decelis, PL, says the new service has brought hardship to the elderly and young people..
Several localities have been badly affected by the new system and trips are now much longer. Do people do not want a comfortable ride around Malta but to get to their destination in time.
2.55 p.m. Joseph Falzon says he is a regular Arriva user. He says that the Opposition’s motion does not aim at improving public service but is an attack on the minister. This can be seen from the fact that it lacked any proposals.
2.48 p.m. Charles Buhagiar, PL, asked whether the contract with Arriva was still binding now that the routes had been changes.
He says that public transport should take users from point A to point B in the shortest possible time. The new service is not doing this and the problem will not be solved by changing the buses. The problem, which is difficult to solve, is the junctions in Maltese roads. So for an efficient transport service, one had to start thinking about alternative systems.
2.42 p.m. Jean Pierre Farrugia, PN, says that although autocriticism is important, this should never hinder party discipline.
He says the reform had been necessary because of the increase in private vehicles which was leading to an increase in pollutants at alarming rates in certain areas.
Less polluting buses had been needed and one can now see that the new buses did not pollute like the old ones did.
2.32 p.m. Noel Farrugia, PL, says the reform was not carried out for the consultants but for those who needed the service. The consultants did not but it was clear that the government was forgetting this.
2.25 p.m. Health Minister Joe Cassar says the opposition is trying to embarrass the government on something the government tried to do right. It is true that there are problems but there is a plan on how these should be tackled.
The reform was preceded by a consultation period and no MPs had expressed their concerns at the time.
He says that changes have already been carried out and more needs to be done but the reform is not all bad.
1.55 p.m. Franco Debono says that to shoulder ministerial responsibility means following the practices of other democracies .
He said that his position had matured over a number of weeks and it was now crystallised. He was acting according to what he believed was right.
1.49 p.m. Franco Debono said that Hillary Clinton's visit to Malta should have been announced by the Prime Minister in the House and not on Bondi+.
1.43 p.m. Franco Debono says he had been telling the Prime Minister for years that national broadcasting was in a disastrous, unacceptable state, worse than the 1980s..
He said that Lou Bondi had invited him to his programme and because he did not reply to his invitation, Mr Bondi spent a day attacking him on his blog and continued with his attack during the programme, which was supposed to discuss public transport.
National broadcasting was worse than in the 1980s. Even European Commissioner John Dalli had lodged a complaint against Lou Bondi. Dr Debono declared he rarely spoke to Mr Dalli and this was when he was still an MP. He did not even have his mobile number.
1.37 p.m. Franco Debono says he cannot follow the PN executive's recommendation to vote against the PL's motion, in doing so he would be going against the oath he had taken to be loyal to the Constitution and the people.
He said the motion was accepting the fact that in spite of all the money spent, the bus service was still defective. It was accepting the fact that the routes had not been successful but it encouraged the minister to keep trying. This went against the constitutional doctrine or accountability. What kind of democratic system was this? This, he said, was unacceptable.
A minister who miscalculated should act according to political standards in parliamentary democracies and as the PN motion acknowledged there had been a major shortcoming it could not then go on to exonerate the minister.
1.31 p.m. Franco Debono said he believes the system will one day settle but a minister cannot act in trial and error with the people's money.
1.25 p.m. Dr Debono says party loyalty does not mean allowing ministers to steamroll over everybody else.
He said that the more the system was improved, the greater the responsibility there was to shouldered by the minister. aking a look at it they immediately said it would not work.
1.20 p.m. Franco Debono says an issue of individual responsibility should not be be turned into one of collective responsibility. The motion was about just one minister. Dr Debono said he did not want to cling to power at all costs, he had proven his loyalty to the Nationalist Party with whom he had contested three elections.
1.15 p.m. Franco Debono declares he will not be voting against the motion. When the system was launched, major complaints started being made and the Opposition then presented the no confidence motion. He took his position and an extensive reform was then announced. The motion is calling for the minister's resignation so how was this being turned into an issue of collective responsibility.
1.12 p.m. Franco Debono - Was the reform planned on the way the people had been promised? No one had imposed any obligations that both systems could not work together for some time. The government had said the system was to be the best in the world but because it failed it was now blaming lack of proposals. There had not even been a Parliamentary group on the reform
1.10 p.m. Franco Debono said he criticised the government on other matters including the power station but in that instance he had voted with the government. This was because tendering process had started before he had been elected. However, he again called for the extension to be operated on gas if possible.
1.03 p.m. Speaker says House was meant to take a break at 1 p.m. Whips David Agius and Joe Mizzi say they had agreed that the House will hear Franco Debono before the break. Mr Mizzi says Dr Debono can speak for as long as he wishes. (Yesterday Dr Debono said he had only been granted five minutes).
12.50 Anglu Farrugia (PL) said he had to wonder how it was the same person, Austin Gatt, who was behind the power station extension contract, the extraordinary losses in the dockyard Fairmount contract, the delays in the SmartCity project because of the government's failures, and now this. The old bus service, he said, had functioned better than the old one despite the €75m poured in the latter. Dr Farrugia criticised the minister for failing to adequately reply to parliamentary questions on the bus service. Taxpayers, he said, had a right to proper information on how their money was being spent, even on consultants. Transparency was paramount, not least because it was the people who were paying for the government's failures and suffering the chaos. It was also shameful, he said, that bus shelters were still missing at many bus stops. The people were fed up of the government and its end was near, Dr Farrugia said. He asked how the government had transferred the land in Blata l-Bajda free of charge for use as a Park & Rode and then Arriva had imposed tariffs, which were only revised somewhat after PL criticism.
12.43 Charlo' Bonnici (PN) said the Opposition was riding on negative sentiment without having, during the consultation stage, contributed anything to the reform. The Opposition had always opposed reform and it had been consistent only in its opposition of Dr Gatt because he had the political courage, with the Cabinet, to pilot important reform. It was an honour and privilege for him to serve under Dr Gatt as parliamentary assistant, and he was witness to his dedication and commitment. The reform was still 'works in progress'. Progress was made over the past weeks and months and more would be done, and he was promising his continued support to the minister.
12.31 Marie-Louise Coleiro-Preca (PL) said that as a result of the bus service inefficiency, workers had lost their job or suffered a pay cut for arriving late, and elderly people were prisoners in their own home. She complained that her complaints and those of other Labour MPs went unheeded. She said that it was not only commuters who were suffering. Arriva drivers too had poor conditions and lacked basic facilities at the termini, a situation which was especially serious for the female drivers. She asked how a large diesel tank for use by the buses in Qormi had been installed without a Mepa permit and was still continuing to be used, despite the obvious danger. The Labour MP said the changes to the route numbers had caused confusion, especially for the elderly.
12.21 Gino Cauchi (PL) said the bus reform was delivering the contrary of what was promised. Instead of being easier to travel, it had become more difficult. Instead of more people taking to the buses, they were taking to their cars. Instead of shorter journey times, trips were taking longer. Workers were arriving late for work, students were late for lectures and patients were late for consultations, all thanks to Dr Gatt. But the ministry and Transport Malta were conspicuous by their lack of enforcement of standards. People were taking so long in traffic jams that women were even managing to complete their make-up, and others were reading books. He would back the opposition motion because it was a vote for accountability and a vote against arrogance.
12.13 Parliamentary Secretary Clyde Puli said Arriva's shortcomings meant the people had not been given the opportunity to try the new concept of public transport, including the interchanges and the government was therefore reverting to the old routes. He would vote against the Opposition motion with conviction. This was the fourth no confidence motion in Dr Gatt because he had masterminded many reforms. To his credit was the modern system of local government and the revolution made in It services, among others.
12.05 Labour MP Chris Cardona said the name Arriva had become a joke. But the state of the service was no laughing matter. The opposition had passed on the people's complaints to the authorities, but they fell on deaf ears because the government was insensitive to the people's needs. This was not a motion aimed at ridiculing the governemnt, but an effort aimed at instilling accountability. And those ministers who failed the people should bow their heads and accept their responsibility. It was not a motion who would seriously harm the government as it was only demanding that Austin Gatt step down. After all, he had already declared he would not seek re-election.
12.00 Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea said the Opposition motion was an exercise in political opportunism. The government recognised the problems of the bus service and was determined to solve them. But how would commuters benefit from the Opposition motion which offered no new proposals?
11.55 Owen Bonnici (PL) said that the crux of this debate was about ministerial accountability to parliament. While the minister had claimed he slept soundly when this motion was presented, it had now been revealed that he offered his resignation to the prime minister, and it was refused. Therefore it should be parliament which should act. This motion was holding the minister accountable to parliament. Should a minister stay in his post despite losing a confidence motion, the President could take the decisions he saw fit. Dr Bonnici said the bus service had been detrimental to tourism as well. For example, significantly fewer tourists were going to Mnajdra and Haġar Qim.
11.40 Finance Minister Tonio Fenech said local councils should shoulder their responsibilities for not attending consultation meetings and for failing to reply to the information sent to them. He said that in view of the changes being made in the bus service, the Opposition should withdraw its motion. Malta used to have an archaic bus service. The new service had its problems, but the changeover from the old system to the new could not happen overnight. The old system was crazy from a financial point of view and lacked accountability. To buy out the old bus owners had been expensive, but simply replacing the buses would still have kept Malta with the same service. Now Malta had better control on the cost of the bus service. Transport Malta could also impose fines if standards were not observed.
11.37 - Stefan Buontempo (PL) – denied that there was consultation with local councils on the routes. He asked what studies had been made about the size of the buses in relation to the roads, and how hundreds of parking spaces had been lost. In December 2008 Austin Gatt had said that the only purpose of the bus reform was the convenience of the users. But the passenger was not king in this reform, and the minister was king carnival. That local councils were handed an information pack about the routes did not amount to consultation. Malta had an arrogant government which did believe in dialogue.
11.25 Foreign Minister Tonio Borg underlined how Malta now had a bus service with longer hours. The buses were modern, with low emissions and problems with the routes were being tackled even though this necessitated an additional 36 buses.
11.14 Silvio Parnis (PL) said there were some positives in the Arriva service. The buses were more comfortable and the drivers were courteous. But the opposition could not ignore the people's concerns. He did not care if the minister resigned or not because the people would judge the government at the general election. If the bus service was so good, why don't the members of the government use it instead of their cars? It was about time the government heeded the people, Mr Parnis said.
11.05 Nationalist MP Robert Arrigo regretted that the House was the last to be discussing the bus reform. He also regretted that months after the reform was launched, the people were still justifiably complaining of an irregular bus service with poor routes and long waiting times. Like other MPs Mr Arrigo spoke on shortcomings in his district and said he could not understand how, after so many studies, the bus service was in its current state. Considerable funds had been spent when they could have been better used. Mr Arrigo said he disagreed with the statistics issued by Arriva because it did not compare like with like, in view of the interchanges in the new service.
10.52 Leo Brincat (PL) says the easiest thing for the Opposition would have been to let the government muddle on. The bus service reform was akin to Fawtly Towers. What was good in the old system had been massacred. The government, he said, had not published any studies on any environmental benefits of the bus service reform. But emissions had increased as more people were using their cars. Malta now also had second-hand buses with a lower Euro emissions level than originally promised, and no air-conditioning. Would they all be Euro V compliant by May?
10.49 a.m. Nationalist MP Beppe Fenech Adami raises some protests as he says that the Opposition was always against any reform the government proposed, without ever making any suggestion. Had the government heeded the Opposition, Malta would still be a third-world country. Since the reforms were major, they were problematic, but the end result was progress for the country.
10.35 Luciano Busuttil (PL) says the bus service is the latest of Austin Gatt's failures following his efforts at the law courts, the local wardens system which is now focused on money-making rather than law enforcement, the Maltacom privatisation which saw prime real estate in Qawra handed to a private company, the delays in SmartCity despite the minister's good work on narrowing the digital divide and the BWSC contract. He complained that the new buses produced considerable noise pollution, something which Mepa and the Transport Authority needed to tackle.
10.29 Parliamentary Secretary Chris Said said consultations had been held before and after the launch of the bus service reform with all those who wished to participate. The Opposition, however, had not participated. The local councils were all invited to make their submissions on the routes as early as December 2008 when a conference was held. In January 2009 they were given an information pack on the proposed changes to the routes in their localities and information meeting were then held. But only 22 of the 65 councils participated. 20 councils made written submissions. Individual meetings were held with the councils which requested them. A huge success had been achieved in the reform in Gozo and this was being appreciated by one and all. Further improvement is being planned.
10.19 a.m. Labour MP Chris Agius says the consultants who were paid €400,000 for drawing up the bus routes should admit their responsibilities and refund the money paid to them. The old service included a few rude drivers, but the service was go. Now Malta has a confusing system which is affecting society and the economy. It is quicker to fly from Malta to Rome than take a bus from Cospicua to Valletta.
10.14 a.m. Nationalist MP Karl Gouder - More remains to be done to make the bus reform a success but the government is addressing the issues. The government is aware of the problems but is determined to make a success of this electoral promise.
10.02 a.m. Labour MP Carmelo Abela says it appears that changes to the bus service sought by Nationalist MPs are being upheld while those by Labour MPs are not. This debate is all about government promises which have not been met. He doubted that the changes on Monday will achieve the desired results. The Prime Minister's call for a parliamentary committee on the bus service was only a ploy to hide the government's failures and divisions within the PN.
9.58 a.m. Nationalist MP Philip Mifsud says people's expectations were raised higher than what could be delivered. However the government had reacted to the people's complaints and suggestions and changes would continue to be made as necessary, with a major change set for next Monday.
9.49 am. - Labour MP Michael Falzon says the reform failure was shown by the six major changes in four months. Now the system would revert to the old bus routes. So what was the reform about, just new buses? The Malta Transport Authority was a failure, second only to Mepa.
9.43 a.m. George Pullicino - New buses have brought about a significant reduction in harmful emissions. The opposition has not given any positive input to the reform.
9.40 am. Joseph Sammut - Austin Gatt must face the consequences of political responsibility and resign. His political appointees and management of Transport Malta must also go.
9.22 a.m. Franco Debono arrives in Parliament - He walked in, jacket in hand and went straight to the Speaker. Nationalist whip David Agius also spoke to him before he sat in his seat.
9.19 a.m. Joseph Sammut - The reform was meant to have have reduced the number of cars on the roads, but instead, the roads have been flooded with cars because the bus service for many destinations is inexistent or unreliable.
The promise of cleaner air has not been realised because there were now more cars on the road.
People are waiting more on bus stages, and journey times were also taking considerably longer.
There were now rumours that the bus service had already lost €2 million. Under the old system the subsidy was €9m per year. On the basis of the Arriva contract, the subsidy will cost €6.5m per year. But the government is paying €55m for the old buses.
For €30m the governemnt could have bought new buses or revamped some of the old ones. The government could also have saved the useless €400,000 paid to consultants for the new route network, which was a total failure.
Somebody should be held accountable.
9.03 a.m. Labour MP Joseph M. Sammut moves his motion - It says that the bus reform had disappointed the people because of the poor route network, an infrequent service and a long waiting times. It notes that a charge had also been introduced for the park and ride. The reform had not reduced cars on the roads. Four months after the reform, the service was still inefficient. It therefore condemns the lack of planning, insists on contract observance and demands the resignation of Transport Minister Austin Gatt.
9 a.m. The sitting opens as usual but as previously agreed, there will be no Question Time.
8.55 a.m. Austin Gatt arrives in Parliament.