Newly appointed Nationalist Party whip Ivan Castillo has called for fixed dates for parliamentary sittings and recess as part of wider reforms aimed at making Parliament more efficient, family-friendly and better equipped to scrutinise government.

Speaking to The Malta Independent on Sunday in his first interview since being appointed Nationalist Party Whip, Castillo said that Malta should move towards fixed parliamentary dates, similar to those adopted by a number of other legislatures, while retaining enough flexibility to deal with exceptional circumstances

Castillo said that Members of Parliament should be able to plan both their legislative work and their personal lives, while insisting that any departure from an agreed parliamentary calendar should only happen with the consent of both government and Opposition.

For many MPs, the parliamentary calendar is dictated almost entirely by government business, with the timing of summer and Christmas recesses often determined by the government's legislative agenda, leaving members, particularly those in opposition, unable to plan their professional and family commitments with certainty.

"I understand that government has an agenda, and that's fine, but there should be fixed dates when Parliament closes for the summer break, the Christmas break and so on, so that people can actually organise themselves and their lives. This is part of family-friendly measures, and this should also include Members of Parliament," he said.

Castillo said that such a system would not prevent government from advancing urgent legislation whenever necessary but said that exceptions should remain just that.

"At the moment we do not know when Parliament will actually close for the summer recess, for example. The government sets the agenda for the House and decides when Parliament stops. Identifying a fixed date would also give direction to the Whips, to the government itself and to Members of Parliament regarding when and how long they have to complete the work that is required," he said.

Castillo said that this has become increasingly necessary if Parliament was to fulfil its constitutional role effectively.

Level playing field needed

He repeatedly returned to what he described as the need to create a "level playing field" between government and Opposition, saying that the current parliamentary model placed opposition MPs at a structural disadvantage.

"Ministers and parliamentary secretaries work full-time, while Opposition backbenchers remain part-time. That does not create a level playing field," he said.

Castillo said the imbalance extended well beyond parliamentary debate itself, noting that shadow ministers were expected to scrutinise government ministries while simultaneously maintaining full-time employment outside Parliament, leaving them with significantly fewer resources than the ministers they shadowed.

"Shadow ministers have to go to work in the morning and then carry out their parliamentary duties afterwards. That does not place the Opposition on an equal footing," he said.

"We are the only Parliament in Europe that still operates on a part-time basis. If the Opposition is to be effective, it must continuously monitor what government is doing, and timing is everything in politics. Members of parliament either need sufficient time allocated to carry out that work or, if not, they need sufficient resources to enable them to do so effectively."

He therefore believed Malta should seriously begin discussing whether Parliament should become full-time, a subject that has been a bone of contention for decades.

"I think it is about time Malta considered either full-time MPs or other possible scenarios whereby an MP has sufficient time, or sufficient assistance to ensure that they can perform their duties effectively," he said.

Ministers' resources

He illustrated the imbalance by pointing to the resources available to ministers.

"If a minister has a staff of 40 people, and I am shadowing that minister, then I am not only shadowing the minister, I am effectively shadowing the 40 people working with him as well, and I have to do that on my own, on a part-time basis, while also attending Parliament and dealing with constituents," Castillo said.

"Sometimes it becomes overwhelming. If you genuinely want to do the job properly, it is extremely difficult and time-consuming. That is why a level playing field and additional resources are so important," he added.

The new Whip also said he believed Parliament itself requires structural reform if it is to operate more efficiently.

He pointed to the workload that accumulates between the dissolution of Parliament and the beginning of a new legislature, noting that legal notices, estimates and other parliamentary business all have statutory deadlines that place significant pressure on the House once it reconvenes.

"This places considerable pressure on Parliament to meet during mornings or on alternative days, while Ministers also have official duties, overseas engagements and other commitments. Organising all of this is not straightforward," he said.

Castillo said much of that work falls upon the Whips on both sides of the House.

"If Parliament were full-time, much of that work would become considerably easier, more efficient and better organised," he said.

Castillo also said that Parliament needed to become better equipped for the realities of modern public life.

Among the reforms he would like to see discussed are dedicated offices where MPs can meet constituents and stakeholders, together with childcare facilities for members who spend long hours in Parliament.

"The Opposition room is currently the only room where 36 Opposition MPs have to meet stakeholders," Castillo said.

Comprehensive review of Standing Orders

He also said that Parliament's Standing Orders deserved a comprehensive review, the work of which had already begun in the last legislature.

"There are many Standing Orders that are outdated and require repeated motions to suspend or amend them. It is time that Standing Orders and parliamentary procedures are reformed. If Parliament eventually moves towards a full-time model, or one which meets more frequently, parliamentary procedures will also need to change," he said.

"We have been talking about these changes for a very long time. It is about time we put our money where our mouth is. I am sure that the Speaker will address these issues. The ball, so to speak, is now in his court, and from what I understand he is very much in favour of getting things done," Castillo said.

Former Speaker Anglu Farrugia had repeatedly argued in several of his speeches that citizens referred to in Parliament should be given an opportunity to respond, given that parliamentary privilege can leave individuals unable to defend themselves against allegations made in the House.

Rather than taking a definitive position, Castillo said such a reform should only be considered after an in-depth discussion involving all sides.

"I think this should evolve into a discussion. I don't think we should simply draw a straight line and say this should be done or this should not be done. We must sit down, discuss it and understand all the repercussions. We have to establish how it would work, when it would apply and in what form it would be introduced. Every decision concerning the way Parliament functions should be discussed in great detail," he said.

He said Parliament had a responsibility to fully understand the consequences of any reform before implementing it.

The Speaker

Reflecting on the previous legislature, Castillo commended former Speaker Anglu Farrugia, who served in the role for 13 years, describing a number of his rulings as valuable procedural guides for Parliament.

"First of all, I would like to thank Dr Anglu Farrugia, as well as David Agius, who served as Deputy Speaker, for the contribution they made to Parliament. A number of the rulings published by Dr Farrugia have provided excellent guidance. When you read them, you find they are very well researched, often based on previous Speakers' rulings, and they provide clear direction on parliamentary procedure and how Parliament should move forward," Castillo said.

Asked about the Nationalist Party's changing position on Farrugia over the years, having opposed his appointment in 2013, supported him in 2017 and opposed him again in 2022, Castillo said that the party was focused on the future rather than the past.

"I believe that instead of looking backwards, we should look to the future. The Nationalist Party supported Speaker Carmelo Abela, whom I congratulate wholeheartedly, together with Deputy Speaker Bernard Grech. I am sure they will both do an excellent job," he said.

"Under Alex Borg's leadership, the Nationalist Party is evolving, modernising and moving with the times. It is looking ahead rather than dwelling on the past. We should only look back where it helps us improve in the future," he said.

Castillo also welcomed Carmelo Abela's decision to resign his parliamentary seat before assuming the Speakership, arguing that doing so reinforced public confidence in the office's impartiality.

"I am glad that he resigned because it gives him greater gravitas and reinforces the perception that he is independent in all his decisions. I am pleased that he took that step," Castillo said.

Castillo also spoke about how he intended to approach one of the most demanding positions within Parliament, describing his appointment as Nationalist Party whip as both "a huge honour" and "a huge responsibility."

"The parliamentary group whip has to be extremely organised, constantly on the ball and ensure that the group's agenda moves forward, while making sure that the work carried out in Parliament is as efficient and effective as possible," he said.

" I want us to do the very best we can as an Opposition, not only by criticising, but by being constructive and putting forward ideas. Showing that the Opposition is an alternative government throughout the legislature, and not only during an election campaign, is essential," Castillo said.

The new Opposition

He described the new parliamentary group as energetic, well prepared and drawn from a wide range of professional backgrounds, adding that the induction process would continue over the coming weeks as newly elected MPs familiarised themselves with parliamentary procedure.

"No one really prepares you for Parliament. There is no course that teaches you how Parliament works, so that responsibility falls on the Whip. Together they will strengthen the Opposition and help us become an Opposition that not only scrutinises government but also proposes solutions," he said.

"There is an enormous amount of work involved, particularly at the beginning of a legislature. The idea is to reorganise the Office of the Whip so that it becomes more efficient.

"Having two assistant whips allows work to be delegated more effectively, enabling us to get things done faster and better. I am fortunate to have two highly organised and extremely capable people working alongside me," Castillo said.

Castillo said he was optimistic about the parliamentary group's ability to work together over the coming five years.

"I am honoured to have been entrusted with this responsibility. It involves a great deal of work, but it is work I genuinely enjoy," he said.

"The parliamentary group has already gelled remarkably well. We all share the same objective, and everyone is pulling in the same direction. The machine has already started moving and, hopefully, over the course of this legislature, we will demonstrate that we are not only an effective Opposition but a genuine alternative government," he said.