The House Business Committee this evening again failed to set a date for debate in parliament on an opposition motion on the situation in justice and home affairs.

Opposition MPs Anglu Farrugia and Joe Mizzi protested strongly after Leader of the House Carm Mifsud Bonnici said circumstances had not changed since the last committee meeting and therefore he could not set a date for the debate.

He said the prime minister and the minister of finance were going abroad next week. With ministers needing to go abroad, priority had to be given to economic developments in the EU and the agenda of the House had to be set according to the national interest.

He said that next week the House would continue its debate on the Sustainable Development Bill and on the following week it would start the debate on the Stability Pact and the Greek bailout.

The government intended to move all motions for debate at the appropriate time, the minister said.

Mr Mizzi said there already existed a procedural motion to regulate voting when ministers were abroad.

Dr Mifsud Bonnici said that procedural motion was intended only in normal circumstances.

Mr Mizzi said the government was clearly avoiding any votes in Parliament. This confirmed that there was political instability. The government's actions were detrimental to democracy, he said.