Labour MP Marlene Farrugia this evening agreed with Nationalist MPs who requested a discussion in the parliamentary Environment Planning Committee on the environment impact assessment of the new power station.
But Dr Farrugia, who chairs the committee, said that she would request a ruling from the Speaker in view of a decision taken by the House Business Committee and a direction subsequently set by the Speaker.
At the opening of the sitting, Opposition MPs protested that the parliamentary Environment Planning Committee was not being given the opportunity to discuss the environment impact assessment (EIA) of the new power station.
Nationalist MPs George Pullicino and Ryan Callus insisted that the committee had previously unanimously agreed to discuss the power station EIA, but a decision by the House Business Committee yesterday referring the debate to the Whole House (in plenary) was a breach of that agreement.
The difference, Mr Pullicino said, was that in the Whole House, the debate would only be among MPs, whereas in the committee, the members would be able to summon and question experts.
Government MPs countered that there was no need for the committee to discuss the EIA when the subject is also being discussed within Mepa.
Labour MP Carmelo Abela said such a discussion was not within the remit of the committee.
Parliamentary Secretary Michael Farrugia said the same procedure would be followed as was done in the BWSC case under the former government.
Mr Abela said that this committee hardly ever met under the former government, when Mr Pullicino was minister responsible for the environment.
Mr Pullicino said the Speaker in a ruling early in this legislature had shown that the committee could debate various issues.
Mr Abela said that was not the case. The Speaker said the committee should follow standing orders.
Mr Pullicino presented a formal motion for the committee to discuss the power station EIA and the storage of LNG gas next week.
Committee chairman Marlene Farrugia said that ever since her appointment, she had stressed that the importance of the committee lay in it being able to discuss national issues which impacted on the environment. It could not restrict itself to matters presented to it by the government, as happened in the past.
She had referred to the Speaker where, she noted, had said that apart from discussing issues referred to it by the government, the government could discuss general themes. Former Speaker Michael Frendo had also ruled that any member of the committee could present items for a general debate.
She said she would refer to the Speaker whether the House Business Committee could decide what this committee discussed and what his direction now was.
Mr Pullicno said he had presented a formal motion and it was clear that the committee should decide its procedure without referring to the Speaker. The committee members should shoulder their responsibility and vote on his motion not depend on somebody else.
Parliamentary Secretary Farrugia said the rules should be followed and the chairman should therefore request direction from the Speaker.
Dr Marlene Farrugia said she had no problem having the discussion, but the Speaker had informed her about the decision of the House Business Committee.
"I am the one who most wants this discussion here, but I cannot go against the Speaker's wishes and I will request his decision in writing," Dr Farrugia said. She said she wanted the committee to be autonomous, but once the Speaker told her otherwise, she would abide by his decision and would request his decision in writing.
Nationalist whip David Agius said it would be a precedent if a committee was not able to regulate its own procedure and agenda.
Carmelo Abela said it would be a dangerous precedent if this committee replaced Mepa.
Marlene Farrugia said the new government was transparent and wanted to give a voice to NGOs and experts. She wanted the committee to be autonomous and had no doubt that the committee should discuss this issue, but she would not override the Speaker.
George Pullicino (PN) insisted once more that there was no need for reference to the Speaker since the committee had already unanimously decided to hold the discussion.
Chairman Marlene Farrugia said she always wanted this issue (on the power station) to be discussed in this committee. "I cannot understand how we can have an environment planning committee which cannot discuss the environmental impact of such a major project.
The mistakes done in the past, when major projects were not discussed by the committee, and not even in plenary sessions, should not be repeated, she insisted.