The Nationalist Party (PN) has requested more time to discuss the second reading of the abortion amendment bill in parliament, PN Whip Robert Cutajar said.

Cutajar told The Malta Independent that "the Opposition has requested more parliamentary sittings to discuss this bill".

A bill that will make abortion legal when a pregnant woman's life is at risk or her health is in "grave jeopardy" was presented in parliament on 21 November. The amendments are intended to free doctors and pregnant women from the threat of criminal prosecution if a pregnancy is terminated for those reasons.

At present, abortion is prohibited by law in all circumstances and both the doctor and mother risk jail time if they go ahead with a termination, irrespective of the reasons why.

The first reading was presented by Health Minister Chris Fearne at the end of the morning parliamentary sitting on 21 November, followed by the second reading in the evening. The second reading is still ongoing.

Cutajar pointed out how the Opposition had already requested more time to discuss this bill when they were given an extra session on Wednesday morning.

After Wednesday evening's parliamentary session, the PN still feels that it needs more time to discuss this bill further.

Consequently, at the request of the opposition, on Monday morning there is going to be an additional parliamentary sitting to discuss the bill further.

"The discussion in parliament has only continued because the Opposition has kept it going. If it were up to the government, this discussion would have ended," he added.

"We have requested more time because we want to talk about this bill more," he said.

Cutajar said that the PN is requesting more sessions as it wants all MPs to speak on this topic.