[WATCH] Decision on when to move to new Parliament to be taken tomorrow

Speaker of the House talks about new Parliament building

A decision as to whether Parliament will reconvene in the new building at City Gate, Valletta, will be taken tomorrow during a meeting of the House Business Committee, Speaker Anglu Farrugia said.

Parliament will reconvene on 13 October after the summer recess. Plans were for the first session to be held at the new building.

“For the first time, Malta will have a fully autonomous parliamentary building,” Farrugia said, addressing a group of over 100 police cadet recruits. 

“It is crucial that you understand the workings of parliament, how laws are drafted and formed,” the Speaker, a former policeman himself, said.

Farrugia also said that Parliament was currently look at a draft law, approved by both sides of the House, for the creation of a Commissioner for public standards.

The Commissioner will have the power to investigate members of parliament if found to or are suspected of breaching the code of ethics. The Commissioner will also have the power to forward the case to the Police if an MP’s actions are found to constitute a series breach of ethics.

Once again, the planned introduction of a parliamentary TV channel surfaced during the discussion and Farrugia said this would complement the online live-streaming of parliamentary committees.

Interventions in the main Parliament Chamber are only available via radio transmission.

“Everyone has a right to know exactly what goes on in parliament and which MPs come prepared and which don’t. The TV channel will improve parliament’s transparency,” Farrugia said.