Speaker Anglu Farrugia called on MPs to use social media platforms in a responsible and faithful manner as he gave a ruling on a Facebook post published by PN MP Jason Azzopardi.

The Speaker was ruling on a breach of privilege complaint submitted by Parliamentary Secretary Julia Farrugia Portelli against Azzopardi regarding a post he made on his Facebook page.

Azzopardi had posted that "heresy" that a junior minister [Farrugia Portelli] invites someone to break the law, whatever that law is. How can we expect people to abide by the law if the government invites you to break it, he added. 

He was referring to a speech that Farrugia Portelli gave on cannabis in Parliament during a sitting held on the morning of last Thursday.

The Speaker quoted Farrugia Portelli's speech, wherein she said that she knew of people who take a beer or two every Sunday and are not called drunkards, and that there is nothing wrong if, similarly, an adult wishes to take a joint every now and again in the privacy of their own home. The problems begin, she had said, when the one or two become more and it turns into a vicious circle.

Farrugia Portelli said in her complaint that she insists that she is against drugs, but could not accept having an MP enter the room midway through her speech and make up a "complete lie" such as this.

The Speaker noted that the complaint, as per the standing orders, should have been submitted at the first possible sitting since it was based on something which was outside of the House, which was not done as it was submitted in an evening session on Friday.

He noted that what Azzopardi posted amounted to the publication of incorrect information, but since the complaint was not submitted in the soonest sitting, it meant that the Speaker cannot rule that there was a breach of privilege.

However in a wider context he called for MPs to be just and moderate in their comments, even on social media, and appealed to all MPs to be more fateful to what is said in Parliament when using social media.