It was time for the government to put into practice its electoral pledge to “hold parliamentary hearings for persons nominated to lead regulatory functions and regulators”, Nationalist MP Ryan Callus said in Parliament last night.

He quoted from Labour’s electoral manifesto, which gave as examples “the Malta Resources Authority, the Malta Communications Authority and others”.

Speaking during a debate on the Development Planning Bill, which yesterday dealt with the new Planning Authority’s executive chair, he said that this person would be one of the most powerful in Malta. His or her decisions would impact the country in irrevocably.

He said the Opposition’s proposed amendment to the Bill, for a parliamentary hearing to be held prior to the appointment, would be consonant with the government’s own proposal, tabled by Parliamentary Secretary Michael Falzon that the chairperson could be dismissed only following a parliamentary resolution.

It was supported by Marlene Farrugia (Ind). She tabled a proposal on behalf of Alternattiva Demokratika saying the chairperson should be appointed following a positive recommendation from the Parliamentary Committee for the Environment and Planning.

“A parliamentary hearing would ensure good governance and transparency. We should ensure that good people are appointed, rather than remove them after the harm is done,” she said. The Bill also proposes that the executive chairperson be appointed for three years, which may be extended for further three-year periods. He or she would be responsible for the implementation of the objectives of the authority as set out by its Executive Council.

The overall supervision and control of the authority’s directorates, the development of strategies and the coordination of working groups to formulate policies, plans and regulations will also be part of the chairperson’s responsibilities.

Mr Callus proposed that the clause empowering the minister to assign other functions and duties to the chair should be removed.

Following a call for a division, Dr Farrugia voted in favour of the Opposition’s proposed amendments three times. They were rejected, as the government voted against.