The Speaker of the House, Michael Frendo, said this evening that he could not rule on whether the phone of MP Evarist Bartolo had been tapped until he received replies from the Commissioner of the Malta Security Service, Judge Frank Camilleri.

Dr Frendo said he had written to Judge Camilleri about the allegations made by Mr Bartolo in a breach of privilege complaint. He had alleged that a conversation between him and MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando was tapped.

Dr Frendo said the Chair could not carry out an investigation because this was exclusively the reserve of the Commissioner.