CM says timetable is tight & Auditor motion will take numerous days

The Government says it has essential ministerial travel planned for October on matters of “huge” national importance to Gibraltar.

It comes in response to the Opposition Leader accusing the Chief Minister of debating the Principal Auditor's Report when he's away.

The Government says it is not possible for it to change the date it had set for Parliament to meet. It says the motion on the 2018/2019 Audit Report will not be settled in one day and the Chief Minister has given Mr Azopardi an undertaking that he will be able to reply when the Chief Minister finishes his address.

Mr Picardo said: “I told Mr Azopardi, when he reached out to me, the reasons why we could not start later in the month.  This will take some time.  The GSD made a meal out of the report and issued statements for days exploiting its contents. We will now address each of those.  Mr Azopardi will be able to reply in detail also.  He will be away from the House for good reason and I have already told him I will make nothing of it.

“There is no reason, therefore, for him to be concerned.  In fact, he will have time to consider what I will say and reply substantively to the points I make."

The Chief Minister said: “I congratulate his family on the graduation of his daughter, which is a happy day which should not be in any way affected by the fact that we are starting the Parliamentary session whilst he is away.”

Mr Picardo said he will send Mr Azopardi his speech and he will be able to watch on YouTube after the ceremony.

“There is no personal slight intended to Keith by this, but our timetable is tight and we are intending to ensure that the many points we need to make are not all squeezed into one day.  The community needs to understand our response in detail.”