For the first time ever the Commonwealth Association of Public Accounts Committee will not be meeting in the House of Commons but inside the new parliamentary building in Valletta, designed by world-renowned architect Renzo Piano.

This was announced by speaker Anglu Farrugia as he led a tour of the building to members of the press this afternoon.

At ground level of the building, a permanent exhibition of parliamentary documents dating back from 1921, which include constitutional changes, speeches, case research and important debates, will be on display for the members of the public.  At the other side of the foyer, a temporary exhibition space is available.

 Next week, works of art of inmates at Corradino Correction Facilities will be on display. Dr Farrugia said that the parliamentary group received several requests from artists wanting to showcase their work. For members of parliament and reporters to move to different floors of the building, an entrance card is required.

 

The office of the Prime Minister and eight offices for members of cabinet are situated on the first floor. Adjacent to the Prime Minister’s office there is a meeting room that may be used for meeting of the cabinet or parliamentary groups, and on the same level there is a room for government members and backbenchers, who can follow the plenary and committee sessions through live streaming.

The office of the Leader of the Opposition, which is the same in design and size, is situated on the second floor, alongside another eight offices for members of cabinet.

At the lowest level, research analysts and parliamentary staff have their offices. A garden is also situated at this level.  At this level, there are also two committee rooms, equipped with interpreters’ booths.

MPs can move from the administration block to the plenary block via a bridge overlooking the garden.

 The plenary room

Perhaps the most important room in the entire building, the plenary sitting room is situated in a separate block from the offices. In front of the speaker’s desk, a screen will indicate how much time is left for MPs addressing their speech. A green light will indicate that two minutes is left, while a red light serves as an order for the MP to stop.

The House Business Committee is also at present discussing the amount of time MPs should have to address the plenary, with the speaker arguing that often MPs take much more time than is necessary.

“The design of this room is non-confrontational, a presents a more continental approach. Rather than facing each other members of the government and of the opposition will be discussing in a circle,” Dr Farrugia said.

The room also has space for any additional seats that a side of the house may obtain. It is also accessible for persons with a disability, and MPs can adjust their desk according to their weight.

A television screen will be broadcasting the plenary session and putting up the voting results when a vote is taken. The plenary will be streamed live on radio, online and on television. The press and members of the public have reserved seating overlooking the plenary.

Committee rooms are situated on the third floor and one spacious room can be converted into two rooms to hold two committees at a time.

The building allows for four committees to be ongoing at the same time.

Access for pedestrians around certain parts of the building might be allowed, but it is up to the police securing the building to decide.  The public can only enter the foyer of the building, but the entrance card is needed to access other levels or the plenary block. 

Members of Parliament will hold their first sitting in the building on Monday 4 May.

Photographs: Jonathan Borg