The Nationalist Party has claimed that current laws do not prohibit the substitution of an Environment and Resources Authority (ERA) representative during Planning Authority meetings.

ERA Chairman Viktor Axiak was absent on the day when the Townsquare development was approved, resulting in the project getting the go ahead through the slimmest of vote margins.

"Government is in a state of panic after one environmental fiasco after another. TVM yesterday aired a long news broadcast where Environment Minister Jose Herrera and Parliamentary Secretary Deborah Schembri said they will change the law to make it possible to substitute the Environment and Resources Authority representative on the Planning Authority Board," the PN statement read.

"This is nothing but an exercise in damage control".

"Both Minister Herrera and Dr Schembri are wrong, as present PA laws state that the ERA must have a representative. This means that it does not necessarily have to be the same person, as the word used in the law is representative and not nominee. More than that, Planning Authority laws do not prohibit a substitution of an ERA representative".

"Both Dr Herrera and Dr Schembri need to stop hiding behind indefensible excuses and carry political responsibility, and ensure that political appointees who were meant to be appointed in order to safeguard the environment, do their duty".