Labour MP Godfrey Farrugia argued in Parliament yesterday that the age of consent should be reduced to 16.

He said in an adjournment speech that Malta currently had the highest threshold in Europe, at 18. The highest after Malta was Cyprus at 17.

He said the current limits were causing hardship among young people who were taken to court for having had consensual sex with people aged under 18.

He pointed out that those over 16 could, in terms of Maltese law, work, marry and operate a bank account. The cut-off year for children's allowance was also 16.

Sixteen-year-olds could also vote in local elections.

As a doctor, he said, he knew that many young people were having sex well before they were 18.

Having a modern legal framework would also make it easier for the medical authorities to reach out to these people and advise them on sexual health.

The current situation could also give grounds of abuse where minors claimed abuse when that would not have been the case.