MPs watchdog to investigate aspects of Venice Commission report

Commissioner for Standards in Public Life George Hyzler has said he will be investigating aspects of the Venice Commission report on the rule of law in Malta.Addressing the inaugural meeting of the parliamentary standing committee to which he will report, Dr Hyzler said he would be looking into concerns raised by the Council of Europe’s rule of law experts on MPs’ ability to scrutinise the government while also holding positions on public bodies, among other issues. However, answering a question by Opposition MP Simon Busuttil, he said other aspects of the report were beyond his remit.Dr Hyzler, who was sworn in to the newly-established role last November, said he had already received four complaints against public individuals, three of which were being investigated while the other had been found to be inadmissible. The bulk of Tuesday’s committee meeting was taken up with questions over how much information about complaints dealt with by the commissioner should be made public.In particular, MPs expressed concerns and disagreements over whether the commissioner - who is bound by law to secrecy - should disclose cases where an individual is cleared of a complaint against them...