Noel Grima

A year has passed since five Maltese citizens were elected to the European Parliament for the first time.

It is now time to examine the records of their presence.

Information obtained by The Malta Independent on Sunday shows a not altogether satisfactory record of their attendance.

John Attard Montalto

Dr Attard Montalto is a member of the Committee for Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE). Out of 34 meetings held between June 2004 and June this year he attended only four.

He is a substitute member on the Committee on Transport and Tourism. Out of 16 meetings, he attended just three.

He is also a substitute member of the sub-committee on Human Rights. He did not attend a single one of the 11 meetings held.

He is a member of the delegation for relations with the Gulf States, including Yemen. He attended one meeting out of five. He is also a member of the delegation for relations with Australia and New Zealand. Out of five meetings, he attended two.

Joseph Muscat

Mr Muscat is a Vice-Chairman of the delegation for relations with Belarus. No information was available had on his attendance in this committee.

He is a member of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. He attended 20 meetings out of 24.

He is also a substitute member on the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection. He attended 15 meetings out of 25.

He is also a substitute member of the Delegation for relations with the countries of South-Eastern Europe. No information could be had as regards his attendance in this committee.

Louis Grech

Mr Grech is a Vice-Chairman of the delegation for relations with the Korean Peninsula. No information could be had for his attendance in this committee.

He is a member of the Committee on Budgets. He attended 15 meetings out of 19.

He is also a member of the Delegation to the Euro-Med Parliamentary Assembly. No information could be had as regards his attendance in this committee.

He is a substitute member on the Committee on Regional Development. He has attended 14 meetings out of 24.

He is also a substitute member on the delegation to the EU-Croatia Joint Parliamentary Committee. No information could be had as regards his attendance in this committee.

David Casa

Mr Casa is a member on the Committee on Fisheries. He has attended 21 meetings of the 23 held by this committee.

He is also a member on the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs. He only attended seven out of the 24 meetings held.

He is a member of the Delegation to the EU-Bulgaria Joint Parliamentary Committee, a substitute member on the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, and a substitute member of the Delegation to the EU-Turkey Joint Parliamentary Committee but no information could be had as regards his attendance in these committees.

Simon Busuttil

Dr Busuttil is the Vice-Chairman of the Delegation for relations with the Maghreb countries, including Libya. He is also a member of the Delegation to Euro-Med. No information could be had as regards his attendance in this committee.

He is a member of the Committee on Budgetary Control and on Budgets. He attended 13 out of the 19 meetings held.

He is a substitute member on the Committee on Regional Development where he has attended 16 meetings out of 24.

He is a substitute member of the Temporary Committee on policy challenges and budgetary means of an enlarged EU 2007-2013 but no information could be obtained as regards his participation in this committee.