Prime Minister Joseph Muscat today presented a motion for newly-elected MP Glenn Bedingfield to be appointed as Deputy Chairman of Committees. The motion was approved, with government MPs voting in favour and Opposition MPs voting against.

This particular role comes into play when parliament resolves itself into a committee, such as is done during the budget. Here, the Speaker leaves the House, and his seat remains vacant and the Chairman of Committees – the Deputy Speaker – or the Deputy Chairman of Committees sits in a chair in front of the Speaker’s platform.

If the Deputy Speaker, Claudette Buttigieg, is unavailable, then Bedingfield takes over. It is the same sole previously occupied by Luciano Busuttil.

According to the Parliament's website, "In the Committee Stage, members examine every clause of the Bill. In the Committee Stage, Members may speak more than once but should limit their comments to the details of the particular clause being discussed. When no more comments are forthcoming on that clause the Chairman puts the question on any amendments proposed to that clause and on the clause as amended. The amendment or clause may then be adopted (unanimously or otherwise); it may be negatived (sic); or a division may be called for, usually by the Opposition Members. When all clauses have been dealt with, the Chairman of Committees reports to the Speaker that the Bill has passed through the Committee Stage with or without amendments."

Glenn Bedingfield has been the centre of controversy due to the contents of his personal blog, which he wrote while also being employed within the Office of the Prime Minister. He was election via a casual election.