Parliament needs to evolve into a better tool to deliver to the people more effective transparency and accountability, outgoing Speaker Louis Galea said.
In his message in the 2009 annual report of the House, Dr Galea, who will soon be leaving his post to become a member of the European Court of Auditors said:
“We need to strengthen our parliamentary institution, to enable it to deliver informed, objective, quality debates, addressing the relevant needs of our people and country.
“We need a Parliament which improves its effectiveness and its watchful scrutiny of the government of the day in the implementation of its programme and budgets.
“We need a more continuous open dialogue with society, using properly all the communications opportunities technology affords us today.
“All this is an urgent must for the democratic process to prosper and to keep the people together in their search to attain the common good whilst safeguarding a quality life for them and their families.”
He said that the select committee, the House unanimously appointed in July 2008, was a golden opportunity to realise all this and more.
According to the report, in 2009 the 69 members met 110 times in plenary, meeting three times a week on average, and more frequently when debating the General Estimates for 2010.
Adjournment was availed of on 89 occasions, alternating equally between government and opposition members. Throughout the year there were two calls for quorum, neither of which was upheld. Six rulings were requested of the Speaker of the House.
In addition to the six standing committees, the two committees set up by virtue of the Auditor General and National Audit Office Act and the Development Planning Act were also convened in 2009.
The House Select Committee on Strengthening Democracy took forward its work from 2008 and will now evaluate the reactions received to a public consultation launched towards the end of the year.
In 2009, the House adopted two resolutions setting up two select committees, one on medically assisted procreation and the other on the re-codification and consolidation of Maltese laws. These two committees are expected to commence their work in 2010.
On April 4, 2009, the House met in a special sitting in order to appoint George Abela as the eighth President of Malta.
A total of 23 acts were enacted by Parliament, four of which were new acts and 17 amendment acts.
Six ministerial statements were made and two petitions were deposited.
The Office of the Clerk received 56 motions, 27 of these were in respect of first readings of bills. Four motions were private members’ motions.
In 2009, 2,221 documents were laid on the table of the House, 380 of which were legal notices.
Divisions called and taken totalled 51.
The casting vote by the Speaker was required and cast on two occasions.