Nationalist MP Franco Debono yesterday said in the House of Representatives that he wished for more reflection on details of the right to legal aid, as when pushing for its implementation he couldn’t elaborate in detail.

There were aspects, such as that of disclosure, which was a right of the legal profession, he said, to be armed with the necessary information prior to advising the client. It was positive to note the Opposition had lent its full support to this law, he said.

Dr Debono said he felt plea bargaining, that is agreement on the sentence between the prosecution and defence, with the courts approval, should be extended into the magistrate’s court.

He added that although at the Attorney General’s discretion, which he didn’t doubt, he felt reasons should be given, explaining the decision as to where a case should be heard.

Although one might have wished for more from the Copenhagen summit, we had to build on the outcome, he said. Malta should not underestimate the value of hydrogen as a source of alternative energy.

Leo Brincat (PL) said budgetary measures took a back burner, when the government was in a state of denial, even on issues like corruption. No matter what the financial deficit, he said, that of credibility was larger.

Other countries, like Finland, took action on reports of declining transparency, he said, but Malta insisted these were just perception. Words like accountability no longer meant anything under a Nationalist government, and the longer Malta was in the EU the more it resembled a third world country, he said.

The use of rooftops for the installation of solar panels was positive, if a bit late, he said. Malta needed an energy mix for renewable energy, and concrete measures to commit to in its National Renewable Energy Action Plan.

The review of pre-election permits issued by MEPA revealed these may be reversed, if found lacking. But who would suffer because of this, he questioned. Although the Prime Minister accused the Opposition of trying to influence MEPA, when the vote was taken, it was not them exerting influence.

The UK saw success in Islamic banking, he said, and it was positive that the MFSA would be issuing guidelines for this soon, as there was sufficient interest.

Justice Minister, Carm Mifsud Bonnici, spoke of a number of measures implemented by the government, including those to do with sale of property and movable items, strengthening the arbitration and mediation centres and giving the court more jurisdiction over the maritime sector, at the same time protecting the sector more.

Budget measures also include funds for works on the law courts, as well as refurbishing of the Attorney General’s office.

Besides the prison sentence facing the criminal, Dr Mifsud Bonnici said, the victim would be entitled to the civil expenses. Furthermore, he said, a mechanism allowed for possessions seized to be returned much more quickly.

Owen Bonnici (PL) said the budget normally included the vision of the party and its promises, but asked: Did the government keep its promises?

Malta’s financial situation was far from positive and the government might justifiably blame the recession. Was it really possible, he asked, that its experts had not warned it? It had fooled the people, he said, promising what it could not achieve.

They promised subsidies on the electricity surcharge, a programme to help youths with social problems enter the workplace and that government boards would be appointed after a public call for applications, to name but a few.

Was the government’s idea of eco-Gozo simply the rehabilitation of windmills, he asked? Gozo deserved to be the envy of other islands. These promises will come back and haunt the government, he warned.

The government criticised the Opposition for deeming the present censorship system obsolete, then the draft national cultural policy to be launched on Saturday says it is time to update these laws to reflect reality.

Ninu Zammit (PN) said he has long spoken of alternative energy, so it was positive to note it had been allocated millions of euros in the last budget.

He said he has always been in favour of these sources; which are cost effective over time, and help for stability in energy provision.

Parliament remembers holocaust victims

Parliament, joined by Italian Ambassador, Paolo Andrea Trabalza and Austrian Ambassador, Caroline Gudenus, stopped for reflection yesterday, to commemorate those who died in the Holocaust and genocides since.

Deputy Prime Minister Tonio Borg said this was not just a commemoration of the past, but also of present day victims.

Crimes which intended to incite hatred and violence were made punishable by 18 months to two years imprisonment in 2009, which was positive, he said.

Deputy PL leader, Angelo Farrugia, joining in the commemoration, questioned whether the world had learnt enough from its mistakes.