No date set for debate on justice and home affairs motion

Government MPs have refused to set a date for the private member's bill on justice and home affairs presented in December by Labour MPs José Herrera and Michael Falzon.

Leader of the House Carm Mifsud Bonnici said he cannot "commit himself" to a date when Parliament will discuss the Opposition motion on justice and home affairs. Mifsud Bonnici was reacting to Labour whip Joe Mizzi's question on Parliament's agenda during yesterday's House Business Committee meeting.

The motion was presented in December by justice and home affairs shadow ministers José Herrera and Michael Falzon. The motion was presented before Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi held a Cabinet re-shuffle and split the justice ministry from home affairs on 6 January.

The separation between justice and home affairs was one of Nationalist MP Franco Debono's main concerns, which ultimately led to the Opposition's motion of no-confidence, which government survived in spite of Debono's abstention. Gonzi's reshuffle meant that the justice and home affairs portfolios held by Carm Mifsud Bonnici since 2008 were split. Mifsud Bonnici held on to home whilst Chris Said has became minister of justice and social policy.

Herrera and Falzon's motion presented in December, demanded that political responsibility be assumed for 'endemic problems' in the sectors falling under the responsibility of the then Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs. Back then Franco Debono had said that he will support government. However, since the motion was presented, the ministry has been separated and Franco Debono abstained on the Opposition's no-confidence motion.

The House Business Committee agreed to discuss the European Union Amendment Bill this evening and continue on Monday if the discussion is not closed tonight. Labour Whip Joe Mizzi said he will refer to his group and come up with a list of speakers. When the European Union bill is over, Parliament will resume the debate on the Education Bill.

The committee also agreed to cancel Wednesday's parliamentary sitting to enable MPs to attend a mass celebrating Prospero Grech's appointment as cardinal.

During yesterday's Parliamentary sitting, Labour spokesperson on Education Evarist Bartolo refuted accusations of "extremism" levelled at him by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi for saying that the Opposition will vote against the Education Bill.

"I reiterate the Opposition's intention to vote against the bill although we agree with it in principle. It is normal practice for the Opposition to vote against government on money bills. It is a normal thing to do, so much so that when the Nationalist Party was in opposition it did the same," Bartolo said.