Speaker to consider Anġlu Farrugia’s proposed PQs reform
Farrugia believes MPs should have the ability to challenge unsatisfactory replies to PQs
Newly appointed Speaker Carmelo Abela said he will be considering his predecessor’s plan to reform parliamentary questions.
Anġlu Farrugia, who recently ended his unprecedented 13-year tenure as Speaker of Parliament, had told Times of Malta in an interview that he had no power to compel ministers to provide satisfactory answers to questions put forward by MPs.
Under Malta’s system, MPs on both sides of the House can submit written and oral parliamentary questions to members of the executive.
Farrugia called for a mechanism allowing MPs to challenge unsatisfactory replies from ministers, or the absence of a reply altogether.
“I said there should be a special parliamentary committee presided over by the Speaker. There the MP whose question was not answered can bring the matter to the committee – which in turn will investigate why this was the case,” he had said.
He pointed to the Canadian system as a possible template.
Contacted for comment, Abela said he will be considering the matter as part of a wider exercise to reform parliament’s rules – known as standing orders.
“With reference to your questions, please note that in the first meeting of the House Business Committee of June 22, I informed the committee that the Office of the Speaker will take charge of the required changes in the Standing Orders. As such, the topics mentioned and others will be considered,” he said.
Farrugia had also said that his rulings led to members of the executive leaving the Public Accounts Committee.
On this Abela said: “I already publicly expressed my opinion that members of the executive should not sit on this specific standing committee.”
Regarding his future, Farrugia said: “I will always be there for my country when needed.” He also said he was considering returning to his legal career.