No, we are not talking about Renzo Piano’s architectural designs for the new Parliament building, which is being built as part of the City Gate regeneration project that includes the entrance and the open-air theatre that will replace the Royal Theatre ruins.

The new building, which was visited by Minister Austin Gatt on Wednesday, on the second anniversary since preliminary works on the project began, will be another gem that the Italian architect would have created as he has done in several parts of the world.

We are referring to what takes place inside the House of Representatives, not only during the plenary sessions but also in house committees and other ancillary work that parliament involves. We believe that the opening of the new Parliament building – Dr Gatt said it will be some time next year – will be a chance for an internal regeneration of the way Parliament works, and also with how MPs behave themselves.

This newspaper has, for example, always insisted that there should be better attendance during parliamentary sittings. We are not expecting a full house for the duration of each sitting; but we do expect MPs to turn up more regularly in the House, and not just for a cup of coffee.

There should also be greater respect among colleagues – of both the same side of the fence and the political opponents. Too often, MPs have resorted to disparaging remarks made about other members of the House, sometimes on a personal level. This kind of respect should also be shown to private citizens who, sometimes, are at the wrong end of comments made by MPs who abuse of the parliamentary privilege afforded to them. The white paper that was recently issued attempts to address this particular matter, but it is not enough to give private citizens the redress they desire.

There should also be a revision of the duration of speeches made during plenary sessions. Both sides of the house should come to terms to drastically reduce the amount of time allotted for each speaker, except in special circumstances such as the presentation of the budget. As journalists who follow parliamentary sittings on a regular basis, it is easy to notice that many MPs struggle to stretch out their thoughts for the duration of time they are allotted – in other words, in five minutes they could say what they would have said in 40. If, at the European Parliament, MEPs have learnt to say what they have to say in three minutes, it should not be such a big thing for local MPs to take up less time to make their views known.

The new Parliament building will be an occasion to celebrate the highest institution of the land, the basis of our democracy. Let us take it as an opportunity to start a new chapter in the way Parliament operates too.