Video-streaming of a regular meeting of a parliamentary committee started on an experimental basis today.

The development was hailed as 'historic' by Nationalist MP Franco Debono, who chairs the Committee of the Consolidation of Bills, whose proceedings are being streamed.

Dr Debono said he had spoken several times on the need to video stream parliamentary proceedings as a means of moving parliament closer to the people. He said he was continuing to call for a law on the autonomy of parliament from the executive, and for an updating of Standing Orders.

Dr Debono noted that after his suggestion on video streaming the prime minister wrote to the Speaker proposing that the recommendation be taken up.

He thanked other people including whips David Agius (PN) and Joe Mizzi (PN), who had also called for such transmissions.

To date, it was only been audio streaming of parliamentary sittings which was made regularly.

It has also become the norm for Budget sittings and the state opening of parliament to be broadcast on television.

The process for video live-streaming was kicked off with an e-mail by the prime minister to Mr Speaker Michael Frendo in January 2011 where he told him that he agreed with Dr Franco Debono's proposals, viewing them as the first practical steps which may eventually lead for transmission of parliamentary sittings on the means of communication available in the country.

http://www.parlament.mt/sc-codification