Reference is made to The Malta Independent’s leader of Wednesday 16 October.

The Ministry for Civil Liberties is glad to note that the editor considers the Civil Unions Bill presented by government to be “a huge advance in the social field”.  We are also glad that you consider that “this is an issue where the rights of the minority must be respected and where the majority must not crush down the minority”.

The editorial is incorrect though when it says that the Opposition was “only given 48 hours to assimilate the bill and come up with a reaction”.  This is factually wrong.  The Opposition was allocated the normal seven days in which to study the bill and respond in Parliament.  Had the bill been put on yesterday’s agenda, the proposal - as was being discussed between the whips of both parties - was that the minister pilots the bill and the following week the Opposition responds.

After the seven days allocated for the Opposition to analyse the bill, each and every Member of Parliament has the right to speak for forty minutes, plus they can also ask for a thirty minute extension. 

If all the MPs wish to speak, all MPs will speak.   That will amount to over 80 hours of debate given that the minister and the shadow minister are allocated one and a half hours each. There will certainly not be any restrictions.  So really, there is no rush at all.

Jonathan Brimmer

Communications Coordinator

Ministry for Social Dialogue, Consumer Affairs and Civil Liberties

Valletta