Members of the judiciary should start publishing a declaration of assets annually. This would include any gifts they may be given to help increase transparency in the administration of justice, shadow minister Jason Azzopardi said today.

Speaking during the Budget debate in Parliament, he proposed a due diligence exercise on all appointed to the judiciary and the widening of functions of the Court of Revision of Notarial Acts.

He also proposed the removal of criminal libel.

Replying Justice Minister Owen Bonnici said that the proposal for the publication of the declaration of assets was in the Bonello Commission report and would be implemented in due time.

During his speech, Dr Azzopardi also noted that three judges on the Small Claims’ Tribunal completed their five-year term but only one was appointed to replace them.

He said that a new magistrate to replace Carol Peralta, who had 272 compilations and 28 inquiries pending, had not yet been appointed.

Dr Bonnici said only two people were being appointed to the three vacant places on the Small Claims' Tribunal with the second being appointed in the coming days. It was not necessary to appoint a third person.

He said that Magistrate Peralta had not been immediately replaced because he had not given notice of his resignation. However, Donatella Frendo Dimech was being appointed magistrate this week.

Dr Azzopardi said the government was itself contributing to delays as it had not paid court experts for the work they did between June and September.

Because of this, they did not file their reports delaying inquiries. One expert, Dr Azzopardi said, was due more than €26,000 in pending payments.

Dr Azzopardi also tabled an e-mail from the head of the Drug Squad to police officers noting that the first meeting of the Drug Court Tribunal was "anything but flawless" due to the lack of consultation.

While the government pitched consultations, facts proved otherwise, he said adding that consultation with the Opposition was also non existing.

Dr Bonnici denied that the police had not been consulted and said that some of their proposals had also been taken up. He said that whoever wrote the e-mail, which was anonymous, should check with Assistance Commissioner Norbert Ciappara whether the police had been consulted or not.