The Association of Former Members of Parliament insisted today that the agreement regarding MPs pensions reached between government and the Opposition should be honoured.
The Association held a press conference on the issue which has been the cause of recent controversy.
The government announced recently that it was withdrawing amendments on MPs pensions after the Opposition withdrew its consensus, which was required for the process to move forward. The government had presented amendments that would have seen MPs becoming entitled to a full pension (upon reaching retirement age) after serving only one term. Currently they have to serve two terms to be entitled to a Parliamentary pension. Both main parties had initially been in agreement. PD however spoke out against, and eventually the Opposition withdrew consensus.
The association explained that the first attempt to change the legislation was made in February 2017, when a bill was tabled and unanimously approved at the first reading on 1 March 2017. They stressed that there were no objections. The Association said that PD MP Godfrey Farrugia was government whip at the time, and said that the association found all the necessary assistance at the time, and help, from Godfrey Farrugia.
Association Secretary Lino Debono sad that PD MP Marlene Farrugia did not object at the time.
The association explained that after the election, (which meant that all bills in Parliament are dissolved), the bill with some changes was reintroduced and re-tabled. They said that all members voted for the bill and no MP objected on the first reading. They said that the 2nd reading was also passed with no objection.
“An MP’s duty is to be present during sessions. Those who opt to leave Parliament buildings is up to them. Nobody expects Parliament to stop for a member who left Parliament to return when they so wish and to their pleasure.”
Debono said that Opposition Leader Adrian Delia gave the association his word and commitment that he will back to bill. He said that when the second reading passed, PN Whip Robert Cutajar texted all former MPs, informing them of this outcome.
The Association said that this was also not the first time the issue was discussed, stating that in 2008 they had agreed with former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi, and Joseph Muscat when he was Opposition Leader. He said that they had also found agreement with Simon Busuttil when he was Opposition Leader.
Debono said the bill would not mean that MPs would only need to sit for one turn and immediately take the pension, but that the pension would apply when the former MP hits pensionable age. He also said that the way the situation as is has resulted in some MPs having no pension at all, as if they were a teacher or civil servant had to resign from governmental posts if they were employed.
Regarding the case of Philip Sciberras, where it was recently reported in the media that he “was granted a privileged pension reserved for MPs despite the Treasury objecting that he had not served in Parliament for the required period of time,” the Association said that they had disagreed with the opinion of the Treasury and that at the time, the Attorney General’s opinion was sought by the Treasury, and was found to agree with the opinion of the association.