The government and the opposition this evening jointly moved a Bill in Parliament for the appointment of a Commissioner for Standards in Public Life  and a Standing Committee on Standards in Public Life.

The Bill was moved for first reading by Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech and seconded by Nationalist MP Francis Zammit Dimech.

Mr Grech praised the MPs from both sides of the House who had worked together in a spirit of co-operation in a Select Committee on the drafting of the Bill on Standards, Ethics and Proper Behaviour in Public Life. The MPs were Francis Zammit Dimech, Justyne Caruana, Ryan Callus and George Vella.

This Bill provides for the setting up of the Office of Commissioner and a Standing Committee on Standards in Public Life to report on any breach of the code of ethics by Ministers, Parliamentary Secretaries and all those in positions of trust.

This, he said, would send a very strong message to the highest institutions in order to respect the electorate which had put their faith in their elected representatives.

Dr Zammit Dimech reminded the House that the original motion had been presented by the Leader of the Opposition because not all ministers and parliamentary secretaries had been declaring their assets accurately. The motion had also covered the employment of relatives in governmental roles.

He was pleased that after several meetings this Bill has been drafted and was agreed upon unanimously, and approved by both parliamentary groups. He augured that the Bill would be published and discussed right away so that it could be implemented immediately.

He said that all MPs should act in a correct way and should demonstrate through both their actions and words the spirit of honesty, truth, seriousness and ethical behavior. These were Christian and human values which were the guidelines by which the people would judge us, he added.

The Speaker expressed his agreement with both the Deputy Prime Minister and Dr Francis Zammit Dimech.