Speaker rules Fenech’s decision to cancel PAC ‘not justified’

Speaker Anglu Farrugia has ruled that Public Accounts Committee Chairman Tonio Fenech’s decision to cancel the meeting, was not justified and that it did not follow parliamentary procedure.

The cancellation of the meeting came after the Opposition walked out of Parliament when the Speaker delivered his ruling on ‘threats’ made by veteran PL MP Joe Debono Grech against independent MP Marlene Farrugia.

Debono Grech was heard shouting threatsat Farrugia, to which she responded with insults. This in turn prompted the speaker  to ask the MPs to retract what they said in Parliament but the Opposition disagreed, insisting that no distinction was being made between the cases.

This afternoon the Speaker said Fenech had decided to cancel the meeting, but that government members were not informed that that meeting would be cancelled, with many, including the Attorney General, the deputy AG waiting for the meeting to start.  The members were informed about the postponement by email at around 7pm.

“Fenech should not have taken the arbitrary decision to postpone the meeting and should have consulted with and informed the other members,” Farrugia said, adding that the PN meeting was not strictly related to parliament work.

Justice Minister Owen Bonnici requested a ruling by the Speaker after yesterday’s meeting was postponed following the Opposition’s walkout.

During the same session, PN Whip David Agius noted that the Opposition walkout was not included in yesterday’s minutes, with Farrugia insisting that, unless there was agreement by both sides, the walkout should not be included in the minutes.

After further discussions, it was agreed that the PN’s disapproval of Monday’s minutes would be included in those of today’s session.