The government is aiming to present a draft revised policy on detention for discussion in the coming weeks, with the aim of implementing changes by next July, Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said this evening.
Mr Abela was winding up discussion on proposed amendments to the Refugees Act, which aim to implement the provisions of the so-called "Qualification Directive" of the EU, which sets out standards for the identification of people in need of international protection in the EU. Infringement procedures had been instituted by the European Commission exactly a year before the bill was debated in parliament, for Malta's failure to implement the directive in time.
The bill was unanimously approved in its second reading at the end of the debate.
The minister was effectively replying to the opposition's immigration spokesman, Francis Zammit Dimech, who said that clear timelines should be provided on when the findings of an inquiry into detention conditions would be discussed, and when the appropriate measures would be implemented.
In his address, Dr Zammit Dimech said that the last thing that asylum seekers who flee from persecution would expect is to end up in a detention centre. He noted that one may argue that there would be the need to implement a detention policy for some time, but also recalled the experience of other countries which instead opted for the concept of "reception centres" which provide the necessary facilities to assist asylum seekers in exercising their right.
The MP said that there was also the need to examine various issues in detention centres, including their physical condition, hygiene, humanitarian concerns, and even what activities detainees could do.
"What can you do in these centres, just stand idle in a corner day after day, night after night," he asked.
Dr Zammit Dimech said that he appreciated that the issue was a delicate one, and insisted that the opposition was willing to work with the government on the way forward. But he also emphasised that NGOs working in the field needed to be included, questioning how at times, they were denied access to detained asylum seekers.
In his own intervention, Mr Abela said that the concept of reception centres had to form part of Malta's immigration policy.
He also noted that he worked on the matter practically as soon as he was sworn in last month, and that the aim was to present a document for public consultation in a few weeks.
The minister said that he would not want the consultation period to be excessively long to ensure that the government's aim to implement changes by July is possible.
As he concluded, Mr Abela recounted the biblical tale of St Paul's shipwreck in Malta, noting how the warm reception granted to the saint was testament to Malta's heritage of providing shelter to those who needed it.
He said that while he did not necessarily expect everyone to "wave palm branches" to welcome asylum seekers, he did note that it would be better if certain comments were avoided.