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It starts today
These are truly revolutionary times: here I am, guest posting in J’accuse of all places, while the owner of the blog is away.
Parliament meets this evening. On its agenda the first reading of ”Motion No. 206 – Private Members Bill – Civil Code (Amendt) Bill” which translated into the amendments proposed by Jeffrey Pullicino-Orlando and Evarist Bartolo.
For the uninitiated, a bill in Parliament goes through four stages before going to the President to be signed into law. These are the first reading, second reading, the committee stage and the third reading, with the discussion going into greater detail with each subsequent stage.
Voting can take place at every stage and in the committee stage each and every article, clause and proposal for amendment gets voted with a final generic vote in reading number three. However, voting takes place only after a division is called with the MPs voting with “ayes” or “nays”. The Speaker reports on how he thought the vote went but he can be “challenged” and MPs’ names are called, one by one, alphabetically, and their vote recorded in the debates of the House.
Drab, you might think. But this time with some MPs following the voice of the people and others following the voice of their conscience, all this becomes more important.
Tonight it’s the first reading. This is little more than voting on the name of the bill, granting leave to the publication of the first text of the bill in the Government Gazette. Usually, there’s no division and the motion is carried without as much as a nod.
Will a division be called even at this very early stage? Be here tonight at 6 p.m. for some live blogging!
Finally they started!
No separation between Church and State here. Parliament starts as is customary with a prayer.
Looks like Tonio Fenech is missing as Mario de Marco is answering PQs in his stead.
It’s on Radju Parlament, of course. Head to Parliament’s website and click on “Live audio streaming” in the top right hand corner.
Exchanges between Austin Gatt and Joe Mizzi on the most mind-numbing subjects. Yes, it feels like Parliament.
Stefan Buontempo (Lab.) and Philip Mifsud (Nat.) are missing too.
George Pullicino not there either.
Oh it’s Alfred Sant who asked the question about agricultural land to George Pullicino. I never understood the man’s above-average interest in agricultural matters.
Tonio Borg in the House.
Cristina is in too.
Here they come …
JPO proposes. Evarist Bartolo seconds.
Vote taken. It’s nem. com.!
OK, so now they head off to discuss the motion on setting up the committee on family affairs.
That’s all folks. No division called, no recorded vote, all voted in favour of the first reading. Next step is the publication of the bill in the Government Gazette. End of the live blogging for today. Good night and good luck.
for the first time in my life you made a parliamentary session seem like fun to watch or listen to!