The chairman of the House Environment and Development Planning Committee has the power to decide when to hold a meeting with e-NGOs to debate three Bills that will bring about the demerger of the Planning Authority, the Speaker said yesterday.

Speaker Anġlu Farrugia said that, as far as was humanly possible, an agreement between the government and the Opposition should be reached, but ultimately the decision rested with Godfrey Farrugia, who is deputising for Marlene Farrugia as chairman of the committee.

The Opposition, he said, had asked for “urgent” debate and the Government Whip had acted accordingly, calling the meeting for today at 3pm, before the House continues debating the motion to amend the Strategic Plan for the Environment and Development in accordance with the Environment and Development Planning Act.

The meeting would enable the NGOs and all interested parties to express themselves on the proposed changes.

The Speaker was reacting to an objection to holding the meeting the following day raised by Opposition Whip David Agius.

Mr Agius complained the meeting was being held at short notice considering that there were three pieces of legislation of 100 pages each to consider.

There was no such rush for the government to pass the motion by Wednesday, he said.