Speaker Anġlu Farrugia ruled yesterday the Chair could not order a Cabinet minister to table a document he had not quoted from but only referred to in a statement.

Opposition leader Simon Busuttil demanded the ruling following the statement by Health Minister Konrad Mizzi on the findings of the Mater Dei Hospital inquiry.

Dr Mizzi told Dr Busuttil after his statement that the inquiry report was being tabled in full whereas only part B of the Arup report was being laid on the Table, promising to release the rest once the full report was concluded.

However, Dr Busuttil insisted that whatever Dr Mizzi had referred to must be tabled in full at once. Dr Mizzi pointed out that the statement was about the Accident and Emergency Department not the whole of Mater Dei Hospital. Dr Busuttil argued that according to a ruling given by the Speaker last year the minister should be “forced” to present the full reports.

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said Dr Busuttil was choosing to seek legalisms to shirk participating in any debate. This was the highest institution of the country, not a court. Dr Muscat promised that all parts of the Arup report, including reports that did not concern Mater Dei, would be tabled immediately they were finalised.

Throughout this exchange there was uproar in the House, especially when Dr Busuttil said the Speaker should be impartial, not suggest ministerial answers.