Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/859132
3 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 9 AUGUST 2017 News MIRIAM DALLI THE country's highest institution may soon be getting its own childcare centre, in a long overdue service that will serve to support parents who are members of the House of Representatives or work at parliament. In comments to MaltaToday, Speaker Anglu Far- rugia confirmed holding meetings with Ministers Evarist Bartolo, Helena Dalli and Owen Bonnici, during which he discussed his proposal and the way forward. "The target is to have a childcare centre in place before the end of year," Farrugia told MaltaToday. The childcare centre will not be housed inside the parliament building – a search is on for prem- ises close to the Renzo Piano building. The provision of a childcare service will not only be made available to members of parliament but will also be offered to ministerial aides and to the staff employed by parliament. Farrugia argued that he holds increased control over the project, and can push it forward, thanks to a recent law that made parliament's administra- tion autonomous of the government. Approved by both sides, the law gave the House the legal per- sonality, budget, resources and structure to func- tion efficiently. It's not the first time that MPs hailing from dif- ferent parties have called for childcare facilities, arguing that the late hours made it even more dif- ficult to juggle between work, politics and child- minding. Adding to a part-time working parliament are the hours, from 6pm till 9.30pm, excluding extra sittings that are sometimes held on Thursdays and Fridays or Saturday mornings. Farrugia, who has long been calling for shorter parliamentary speeches and different hours dur- ing which the plenary sessions are held, also told MaltaToday that he would be the first to push for "decent hours" if the request is made. Just before parliament rose for the summer re- cess, the government presented a parliamentary procedural motion that provides for the convening of parliamentary sittings on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, from 6.00pm to 9.30pm. "Although the House has been meeting for quite a number of years during these time frames, the Standing Orders still say otherwise and therefore, as happened during previous legislatures and ad- ministrations, a motion of procedure was moved in this sense," Clerk of the House Ray Scicluna told MaltaToday. "What is innovative in this motion is that a dis- position has been introduced which allows the government to convene parliament on these 'nor- mal days' from 2pm." Recently, the Nationalist Opposition called for revised hours, and suggested the option for MPs to work on a full-time basis. The introduction of family-friendly measures, the PN's deputy leader Mario de Marco had said, would ensure that more "talent" is attracted, which in turn would result in debates of a higher quality. In comments to MaltaToday, PN whip David Agius reiterated that the opposition was in fa- vour of revised hours, but commented that it had not received any feedback from the govern- ment on its proposals. On its part, the govern- ment said it had not received any official cor- respondence from the PN. Cash changes hands on most corners in Paceville, St Julian's CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Never mind the fact that no receipts are issued, with the buyer only getting the ticket in return for the cash. MaltaToday has observed these youngsters selling tickets for all kinds of events, includ- ing one-off concerts featuring prominent international artists. Some of them even carry or set up posters and signs adver- tising the tickets being sold, of- ten combining one event with an additional bonus, such as free entrance to a nightclub. The owner of a popular outlet in Bay Street told MaltaToday that the foreigners turn up eve- ry day without fail in the early afternoon, touting their tickets to foreign students, tourists and Maltese passers-by. "Most of them are foreigners and are often quite brusque and annoying to passers-by," he said. "They chase people away from our doors because of their behaviour." Another outlet owner in the same street said that the touts were stealing business away from legitimate owners because people were being convinced to pay cash for the tickets on the spot, often leaving them with- out further money to spend. "This is illegal and I have re- ported this behaviour to the police and the department (of trade) numerous times, but no action has ever been taken," he said. The owner of a club situated in the square in front of Burger King in Paceville, at the inter- section of Zammit Street with Wilga and St Georg streets, said that the situation with the touts was becoming untenable. "I cannot understand how no one wants to take action against these people even if they know that this is illegal," he said. The man said that buses are often noted collecting people to ferry them to the various events. "What's worse is that these buses then drop the people off at around 2am or 3am, most of them would be half drunk and therefore in no state to be al- lowed into our clubs or outlets," he said. MaltaToday spoke to Philip Fenech, GRTU deputy presi- dent, who confirmed that a number of members had com- plained of the practice and that some had also filed complaints with the police. "It is true this is illegal, since no sale transaction can happen outside a fixed licensed outlet," Fenech said. "We have been noticing a year-on-year rise in the number of people selling tickets directly for the past few years." Speaker plans parliamentary childcare centre Touts make brisk business selling tickets to tours, parties, concerts and clubs It's not the first time that MPs hailing from different parties have called for childcare facilities