House of Representatives Annual Review 2006 THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THE PALACE VALLETTA – MALTA TEL : +356 2559 6000 FAX : +356 2559 6400 WEBSITE: www.parliament.gov.mt Printed at the Government Press CONTENTS Foreward i (A) HOUSE BUSINESS 6 (1) Overview 6 (2) Legislative Programme 7 (3) Parliamentary Questions 10 (4) Ministerial Statements 10 (5) Petitions 10 (6) Motions 11 (7) Papers laid 11 (8) Divisions 11 (B) STANDING COMMITTEES 11 (1) Standing Committee on House Business 13 (2) Standing Committee on Privileges 14 (3) Standing Committee on Public Accounts 14 (4) Standing Committee on Social Affairs 15 (5) Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs 17 (6) Standing Committee for the Consideration of Bills 19 (7) Standing Committee on Development Planning 19 (8) National Audit Office Accounts Committee 19 (C) INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES 20 (1) Mr Speaker 20 (2) Deputy Speaker 22 (3) Conferences hosted by the House of Representatives 22 (4) Outgoing visits of Maltese parliamentary delegations 22 (5) Incoming visits of parliamentary delegations 28 (6) Parliamentary Friendship Groups 28 (D) ASSOCIATION OF FORMER MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENTS 28 (E) OTHER ACTIVITIES 28 (F) OBITUARIES 31 ANNEXES A. Members of Parliament – 10th Legislature 33 B. Schedule of Meetings of Hon Speaker of the House of Representatives 34 C. Extract from the Standing Orders re Standing Committees 37 D. Meetings of the Standing Committee on House Business 42 E. Meetings of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts 43 F. Meetings of the Standing Committee for Social Affairs 44 G. Meetings of the Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs 46 H. Meetings of the Standing Committee for Consideration of Bills 49 I. Meetings of the Standing Committee on Development and Planning 50 J. Meetings of the National Audit Office Accounts Committee 51 K. Parliamentary Friendship Groups 52 Foreward Anton Tabone Speaker of the House of Representatives This Annual Review of activities of the House of Representatives for 2006 is the first such publication of its kind. It incorporates an overview of events that happened in the House, both at the local and at the international level. I hope that it provides a good reference to all Members. 2006 was a successful and eventful year. Much has been achieved but much more remains to be done. I am confident that, with the assistance of both sides in the House, our main objective, namely that of reforming procedures and work practices in the House, will realize itself in the not distant future. Such a reform, whilst ensuring the independence, effectiveness and accountability of Parliament, would guarantee a more professional parliamentary service. We need urgent and better tools to carry out our duties and responsibilities in present day circumstances. I wish to highlight three special events. The first concerns the refurbishment of two halls adjacent to the offices of the Chairpersons of the Standing Committees. The space is now occupied by the Research Analysts attached with the Standing Committees and a documentation centre that has been set-up for research and use by Members of Parliament. The second relates to the launch, after so many years of hard work, of the book entitled ‘Malta’s Parliament –– An Official History’. The third event is the establishment of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Mediterranean with its Executive Secretariat in Malta. The Assembly will, for the first time, bring together, on an equal footing, all the national parliaments on the Mediterranean littoral. I extend my sincere thanks and appreciation to both sides in the House for their continued support towards this project. Finally, my sincere appeal to all Members of Parliament. As the people’s representatives, we have to work harder to make the House more active, more open and more visible. Whilst recognizing your commitment and dedication, sometimes at personal expense, I am confident that with the assistance and cooperation of all Members we can look forward with courage and enthusiasm. A special word of thanks goes to all the Staff of the House of Representatives and particularly to those who contributed towards the first issue of this publication. I augur that this initiative will be carried forward and improved upon in the years ahead. i (A) HOUSE BUSINESS (1) Overview During 2006, the House of Representatives met 141 times, averaging three sessions a week. The House sat from 9 January to 5 April, from 24 April to 28 July and from 25 September to 12 December 2006. Sittings were more frequent during discussions on the 2007 Budget allocations to the various Ministries. The 2007 Budget was presented on the 18 October 2006. Adjournment was availed of on 115 occasions, divided equally between Government and Opposition members on an alternating basis. During 2006, there were 24 calls for quorum, 10 of which were called in one sitting. The House was adjourned for the next sitting day with the same agenda on six occasions due to lack of quorum, while on the other occasions, the sitting was resumed after the interval of five minutes. On the 24th January, the House ratified the Accession Treaty between the EU Member States and the Republic of Bulgaria and of Romania. The Standing Committee on Foreign and European Affairs had recommended the ratification of the said Treaty. In May, the House debated an amendment to the Standing Orders of the House wherein the discussion on the monetary policy with the Governor of the Central Bank of Malta was included in the remit of the Public Accounts Committee. In July, the House debated the partial revision of the Structure Plan which, in accordance with the Development Planning Act, was first debated in the Standing Committee on Development Planning. Since the motion was not unanimously agreed to in Committee, the law provided for the motion to be referred back to the House for further discussion. Also in July, the House approved the transfer of Government property in Ta’ Qali to the US Embassy in Malta. In October, the House approved Malta’s adhesion to the European Patent Convention and to the Patent Cooperation Treaty. Also in October, the House debated the working plan for the year 2005 – 2006 of the Parliamentary Secretariat for Small Businesses and the Self Employed relating to initiatives to develop entrepreneurship in Malta. On 4th December the adjournment time was dedicated to the Council of Europe campaign to combat domestic violence against women, a serious assault on human dignity which prevents women from enjoying the fundamental rights secured by the European Convention on Human Rights. The adjournment time was shared equally by the Minister for the Family and Social Solidarity and Hon Helena Dalli. During the same month, the House also approved the ratification of the UNESCO Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. During the year, Mr Speaker delivered eight rulings, six of which related to alleged cases of breach of privilege. 6 On 30th January, the House observed a minute’s silence to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust following the United Nations resolution of the 21st November 2005 designating the 27th January as annual international day of commemoration to honour Holocaust victims. (2) Legislative Programme During 2006, Parliament enacted 20 acts, 10 of which were principal acts and 10 amendment acts. (i) Primary legislation and objectives behind the respective Bills • Act II of 2006 – The Budget Measures Implementation Act The objects of this bill were to implement various budget measures and to implement other administrative measures. • Act III of 2006 – The Rome Convention on Contractual Obligation (Ratification) Act The object of this bill was to implement the Ratification of the Accession Convention of the 14th April 2005 to the 1980 Rome Convention on the law which applies to contractual obligations and to incorporate the Rome Convention into the laws of Malta, and furthermore, in order to establish and facilitate through the European Union Act the legal mechanism which is necessary for the transposing into Maltese legislation of such Conventions as Malta is bound to implement as a Member State of the European Union. • Act IV of 2006 – The Human Blood and Transplants Act The object of the bill was to transpose Directives 2002/98EC, 2004/33EC and 2004/23EC and more explicitly to ensure that activities relating to the collection and testing of human blood and blood components, whatever their intended purpose, and to their preparation, storage and distribution when intended for transfusion, are undertaken only by blood establishments in Malta which have been designated, authorized, accredited or licensed by the Licensing Authority for that purpose. Furthermore, the Bill laid down the standards of quality and safety for human tissues and cells intended for human applications in order to ensure a high level of protection of human health. • Act V – The Securitisation Act The object of this bill was to provide for securitisation and to introduce new rules on securitisation vehicles. • Act X of 2006 – The Euro Adoption Act The objects and reasons of this bill were the establishment of the legal framework and mechanics to provide for the adoption of the euro as the currency of Malta and for the replacement of the Maltese lira by the euro on such a date as may be established in agreement between the Government of Malta and the Council of the European Union. 7 • Act XI of 2006 – The International Carriage of Goods by Road Act The object and reasons of this bill were the ratification by Malta of the Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road (CMR) signed in Geneva on the 19th May, 1956 as amended by the CMR Protocol of Geneva signed on the 5th July, 1978 and its incorporation into the domestic law of Malta.