S.L. const.2 Art. 7Address in reply to speech. Debate thereon.

(1) Notice of motion for an Address to the President of Malta in reply to His Excellency’s speech shall then be given, and the motion shall be placed on the orders of the day for the next sitting.

(2) Not less than two days’ notice shall be given of any amendment to the Address in Reply.

(3) The debate on the Address in Reply, together with any amendment thereon, shall be limited to three full sitting days, the debate on each of such days terminating at 9 p.m. If a speech be not concluded at 9 p.m., it shall be within the discretion of the Speaker to permit the member speaking to complete his speech, notwithstanding that the hour of 9 p.m. has arrived.

Unless the business has been sooner concluded, at 9 p.m., on the last of the days allotted, the Speaker shall, without any further amendment or debate, put forthwith the question on each amendment proposed, if any, and finally shall put the question for the adoption of the Address:

Provided that, on any of the days so allotted, formal business, the first reading of bills, or the asking and answering of questions may be taken up to 6 p.m. After 9 p.m., other business may be proceeded with as usual: Provided further that until the Address in Reply is disposed of, no private business shall intervene. Business under consideration at 6 p.m. on any of such allotted days shall be adjourned to another sitting day, unless disposed of after 9 p.m.

Nothing in the foregoing provisions shall be construed to prevent the interruption of the debate on the Address in Reply by the passage of any financial business; provided always that the time as above allotted for the consideration of the Address in Reply shall in no case be curtailed.

II. Sittings, Quorum, Adjournment and Closure