The Opposition this evening requested a postponement of part of the Budget debate because Opposition leader Simon Busuttil will be away from Malta for a conference of the European Popular Party in Spain between October 20 and the afternoon of the 23rd.
The Budget is due to be presented on Monday October 12 and Dr Busuttil will give his reply on Monday, October 19.
But Opposition whip David Agius explained at a meeting of the House Business Committee that Dr Busuttil would then have to be abroad on October 20 and would therefore could not be present for the Prime Minister’s reply, due on that day.
He therefore asked for a postponement of Dr Muscat's reply and the start of the debate on the financial allocations for each ministry, and said the government was alerted to the situation some weeks ago.
Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech said he could not see how the programme of sittings could be altered since the Budget debate had to be completed by October 28 or 29.
Mario de Marco, deputy leader of the opposition, said the Opposition was requesting a three-day postponement for the Prime Minister to give his reply on the evening of the 23rd. The Budget debate would then be completed by October 30. He did not think this would cause problems in Brussels.
Both sides agreed to consider what arrangements could be made. The two sides also agreed that electronic voting will be adopted in the House after the Budget debate.
FREE-TO-AIR TRANSMISSIONS OF PARLIAMENTARY SITTINGS
During the sitting, the Speaker, Anglu Farrugia, said it was hoped that by the time Parliament reconvenes on Monday, TV transmissions of parliamentary sittings would be transmitted free to air. They are currently only transmitted on the Melita network for paid subscribers.
An issue cropped up over whether PBS should use its equipment to transmit the main speeches of the Budget debate or whether it would use the free from the parliamentary TV channel.
Mr Agius argued that once parliament had its own set-up, it should be that feed which should be used.
Deborah Schembri (PL) said she saw nothing wrong in concurrent transmissions by PBS and the parliamentary channel.
The Speaker said he had no problem about PBS but he was in favour of boosting the parliamentary channel and perhaps the restrictions usually imposed on the cameras of the parliamentary TV channel could be eased. (In terms of regulations, the cameras are currently fixed only on the MP making his speech).
Dr Schembri suggested parallel transmissions for this year, with restrictions on the parliament camera crews being eased.
The committee agreed.
MEETINGS ON OIL PROCUREMENT CONTROVERSY
At the end of the meeting, Mr Agius asked what was happening regarding the Public Accounts Committee which is discussing irregularities in the oil procurement process.
He said committee chairman Jason Azzopardi had written to the government side some seven times, seeking a date to reconvene the committee, but no feedback had been received.
Speaker Anglu Farrugia said Dr Azzopardi had also raised the issue with him. He had in turn spoken to Justice Minister Owen Bonnici and it was expected that the committee would reconvene on October 6.