Parties hope to reach compromise on parliamentary agenda

In the hours preceding the House Business Committee meeting this afternoon, Nationalist whip David Agius and Labour whip Joe Mizzi have expressed their hope that common sense will prevail and both sides will reach a compromise over the parliamentary agenda.

While both sides are in agreement that the Labour motion on the privatisation of car parks should be discussed before the Budget, the two parties have not yet agreed on a date.

Labour whip Joe Mizzi insisted that his party has no intention to disturb government's programme of work but stressed that the House Business committee must respect the Speaker's ruling given this week.

"I hope that good will is shown in today's meeting and an agreement which respects the will of the majority is reached," Mizzi said.

The Opposition whip reiterated calls for a reform in Parliament's rules in order to ensure that the will of the majority is respected.

Mizzi's counterpart, David Agius, sounded more optimistic: "If both sides are sensible we will reach a compromise." The government whip explained that both sides will try and reach an agreement over the parliament's agenda for October and November, based on this week's ruling given by the Speaker.

Agius added that the government has no qualms with discussing the motion before the budget, but would not commit himself on whether the vote will be taken before the budget.

"We proposed to have the discussion on 12 November which would have been before the budget," Agius said. However he said he couldn't commit himself on when the vote will be taken as both sides would need to discuss the number of speakers and sittings needed. 

Asked whether Franco Debono's motion on Gatt will also be discussed before the budget, the PN whip said the government is willing to discuss anyone of Franco Debono's motions but noted that priority in today's meeting will be given to the Labour motion.

The two sides could not reach an agreement on when the Labour motion calling for the repeal of the government's privatisation process for the management of public car parks should be discussed.

Furthermore, agreement could not be reached reach agreement on another motion tabled by Nationalist MP Franco Debono, asking for the resignation of transport minister Austin Gatt.

The Opposition had initially requested an urgent debate while the government proposed to start discussing the motion on 12 November.

Labour's request to have the motion debated last Tuesday was turned down by the Speaker on Monday night, when he ruled that in terms of standing orders, motions of this nature could only be put on the Parliamentary agenda through agreement in the House Business committee and urged both sides to come to an agreement in today's meeting.

Independent MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando and Nationalist MP Franco Debono both voiced their support to have the Opposition motion on car parks discussed urgently.

The Speaker also pointed out that his responsibility was to see that government's work is brought before the House but he also wished to see more work by the MPs pushed forward, in a clear indication that the Standing Orders are outdated.

The Nationalist government is insisting that Parliament should first discuss bills relating to the EU stability fund, IVF, cohabitation, and film and theatre productions classification before the Budget is presented, in the first half of November.