As Minister Leo Brincat is making a statement in Parliament about COP 21 in Paris, Government and Opposition are meeting on the sidelines to try and solve a knotty problem of timing that cropped up this evening.

Government has made clear today that Parliament must debate the AUM grant of land tomorrow and this debate must end with a vote.

The Opposition expressed itself surprised by this and Leader of the Opposition Simon Busuttil spoke of the government imposing a guillotine on discussions.

It would have hoped this debate to continue in the new year but Prime Minister Muscat said this was not as the government saw it.

Earlier, reference was made to the House Business meeting on 1 December where the timelines had been set but Opposition Whip said no mention had been made of a motion.

The issue had been sparked off by a rushed request that the Committee of Verification meets this evening, a request that was made at 5.30pm, while Deputy Prime Minister Louis Grech who heads it is out of the country.

This would have meant that the two Opposition members on this committee would not have been able to attend the Public Accounts Committee also slated for this evening on which they also sit.

Meanwhile, following from the Committee's earlier meeting today Charles Mangion and Tonio Fenech are to see the due diligence report tomorrow morning. Dr Muscat said this was a first.

He insisted that whatever these members see is confidential. Dr Busuttil agreed with this but said the Opposition still reserves the right to make political points on the basis of the confidential information it receives. If the prime minister does not agree with this, it would have been better not to give the Opposition access to information.

The Speaker suggested a longer session tomorrow such as starting at 3pm. This was accepted by the prime minister who said he is due to go to Holland on Wednesday.

Jason Azzopardi pointed out there is another PAC meeting tomorrow evening and the witness named by the government has already been notified.

Updated

A few minutes before 8.30pm the two sides reported that agreement had been reached. 

The Committee of Verification is to meet at 8.30pm and will report back to the House by 9pm.

The House will meet tomorrow at 6pm but the sitting does not have a time limit - it can go on for hours but must end with a vote.