Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said yesterday that some parliamentary sittings may not be held if MPs needed to go abroad on government business that was in the national interest.

Dr Gonzi was speaking in an interview on Radio 101.

Problems arose in Parliament last week when the deputy chairman of committees, Nationalist MP Frederick Azzopardi had to use his casting vote twice on two opposition amendments to a Bill on the reform of the planning authority because Nationalist MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando was abroad on government business.

Government whip David Agius had said he and his counterpart Joe Mizzi had reached a gentlemen's agreement that the vote would be taken at another sitting, given Dr Pullicino Orlando's absence. But Mr Mizzi kept insisting that what counted were the minutes of the House where there was no mention of such an agreement.

Speaking on Radio 101 yesterday, Dr Gonzi said that, in view of the opposition's behaviour, he would have to take a number of hard decisions, including not allowing ministers to travel abroad on work-related business.

He said last week he asked Finance Minister Tonio Fenech and parliamentary secretaries Jason Azzopardi and Clyde Puli to cancel work-related trips.

"Since the vote will be taken on Wednesday this means we have to make sure everyone is there. But this means there will be events of national interest we might not be able to attend."

Dr Gonzi said that the recent events in Parliament, including the resignation of Deputy Speaker Carmelo Abela, showed that no one could be trusted. "These games are not good for us or for Parliament," he said.

The new Deputy Speaker would be chosen and announced this week, he added. "I can't understand why he (Mr Abela) resigned; he lost and so did the country.

Mr Abela resigned two weeks ago as a form of protest over the way Speaker Michael Frendo handled the vote on the extension of the Delimara power station.

During the vote, Community Care Parliamentary Secretary Mario Galea accidentally voted in favour of an opposition and Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg said Labour MP Justyne Caruana had also voted against.

Turning to the investigation into corruption claims surrounding the privatisation of the super yachts facility at the shipyards, Dr Gonzi said he asked the Police Commissioner to investigate after he was informed that there was one allegation of corruption.

However, he said the opposition, which had been the first to make claims of corruption, could have easily asked the police to investigate.