Updated | House adjourned to Thursday morning

House adjourned to Thursday morning • private member’s bills to take precedence

The House has been adjourned to Thursday morning and will continue with the discussion on the Enemalta Act.

Farrugia said there was no specific agreement for parliament to meet on Thursday morning but took into consideration that a number of bills must be approved before parliament breaks off for the summer recess.

His ruling came after consulting a number of rulings given by various Speakers

It was the fight of standing orders in parliament as the Speaker has left the Chamber to decide on a ruling on when the House of Representatives should be adjourned.

The government wanted to adjourn to tomorrow (Thursday) morning so it can continue debating the draft bills it needs to approve before parliament adjourns for the summer recess.

However, Opposition whip David Agius said there was no agreement by the House Business Committee on when parliament should adjourn. The government said it was its prerogative to decide.

Agius, failing to quote the exact standing order he was referring to, said that the House should adjourn to Monday evening given there was no agreement.

But when government whip Carmelo Abela said parliament will meet tomorrow morning, Agius said Thursday morning was reserved to motions tabled by the Opposition.

Standing order eight confirms that, if not agreed otherwise, the House must meet on Monday and Thursday at 5pm.

According to standing order 8.2, Thursday should be dedicated to private member’s bills or motions presented by the Opposition. In other words, Thursday is the prerogative of the Opposition.

Speaker Anglu Farrugia once again asked Agius to cite the number of the standing order he was referring to.