The Opposition is only interested in hindering Parliamentary work, the government said this evening in a statement replying to criticism by the Opposition during a news conference this afternoon.
During the conference, Opposition deputy leader Anglu Farrugia and whip Joe Mizzi criticised the government for having adjourned the House for four weeks over Easter.
They said the recess was normally of about two weeks and this was longer than usual. Furthermore, in a breach from normal practice, the recess was not discussed in the House Business Committee.
Dr Farrugia said a four week break was 'scandalous'
This break, they said, was far too long. It meant that by the time parliament reconvened on April 23, MPs would not have voted for three months.
The last vote was on the no-confidence motion on January 26.
Dr Farrugia said the current situation went against the principles of democracy. The government, he said, was continuing to postpone decision-making and this was perpetuating instability. The House, he said, was simultaneously debating 14 Bills but not concluding anything.
Dr Farrugia and Mr Mizzi also criticised Leader of the House Carm Mifsud Bonnici for not having brought for debate an Opposition motion on justice and home affairs, despite a commitment by his predecessor Tonio Borg.
But in a statement this evening, the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry said that between January 18 and March 27, Parliament met 27 times. It approved three laws and 102 legal notices and 2,326 parliamentary questions were answered. Four bills were presented.
During the debates 64 interventions were made by MPs from both sides of the House. Parliament debated matters of a urgent matter due to the European crises and following that it started to debate the law to bring budget measures into effect.
House committees met 39 times, the House Business Committee six times.
The ministry said that Minister Carm Mifsud Bonnici repeatedly stated that the motions presented would be placed on Parliament’s agenda.
The statement noted, that besides their parliamentary work, ministers and parliamentary secretaries also carried out work in the EU and other fora abroad. The days when Parliament could meet was also affected by these activities.