A parliamentary question put by Opposition leader Simon Busuttil to Home Affairs Minister Manwel Mallia this week shed some light on the citizenship scheme process.

Minister Mallia told the House of Representatives that to date, there were 144 applications for the IIP and that 12 of them had been completed, in terms of vetting and processing.

The interesting part is that half of them – six, were not accepted. This newspaper decided to clarify the matter and get in touch with the ministry to ask what the answer actually meant.

It turned out that six out of the 12 completed applications were sent back by the regulator – Identity Malta - to the applicants because the required information was not submitted in its entirety.

This is a very positive development – not in terms of the actual number of applications that have been sent back, but in terms of the fact that the necessary checks and balances seem to be in place and that the applications and being vetted and scrutinised diligently.

Apart from the initial outcry where people were livid that the scheme was not tied to investment or residency, the secondary (yet still major) worry was that there would not be enough screening and that there would be loopholes.

Obviously, as with every system in the world, some people will try to abuse it. But it is very reassuring to see that there seems to be serious commitment to making sure that all is in order before any passports and permits are issued.

While it is understood that the funds generated have not yet been received, there is a concern about the National Development and Social Fund, as the board has not yet been appointed. At some point, these funds will come through and the board will oversee the management of 70% of each of the €650,000 received by the main applicants.

The Prime Minister said that the board will be appointed at the “opportune time” – but surely, that time must fast be approaching.  Another issue which still remains is that the monitoring committee has yet to meet. Opposition leader Simon Busuttil has made various calls for it to convene,  but according to the PN, those calls have fallen on deaf ears. As the government has said, there are 144 applications and 12 have been completed. We understand that it might be a little early to convene it for that small number of applications, but if that number rises before the country settles down for some much deserved quiet time in the hot summer months, surely, the country deserve a transparent update on what is going on and how many people have been let into the country. All in all, though, the information gives reason for reassurance. That is all people want... reassurance that not every Tom, Dick and Harry is being given a Maltese passport.