Two quorum calls were made in Parliament this morning after the Opposition whip complained that only Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia was present on the government benches.

The House is continuing its debate on the Individual Investor Scheme, which provides for the sale of citizenship.

The interruptions came during a speech by Nationalist MP Frederick Azzopardi.

After the first quorum call a number of government MPs entered the Chamber to form the quorum (which requires the presence of 15 MPs).

However they left shortly after and whip David Agius complained again that there was no quorum.

Dr Mallia pointed out that up to a few minutes previously, only two Nationalist MPs were in the chamber. Now there were four. He said ministers were away because of a Cabinet meeting.

The sitting was again suspended for five minutes until a quorum was formed and the sitting resumed.

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