In Mintoff’s time it was mandatory. This lot seem to be reviving the requirement.

This is wrong because you can’t talk or text on the phone and listen to evidence simultaneously.

When a phone rings or buzzes, it creates a distraction.

We probably remember Franco Debono’s phone on TV before the last general election.

But I think official meetings should be recorded for the sake of, if nothing else, faithful transcription.

Il-hatra ta’ Carmelo Abela minflok Manwel Mallia, hallietli xaqq dawl imbexxaq.

B’dan l-atteggjament, Carmelo Abela wera li hu mill-istess pezza bhal l-ohrajn. (Ma nafx ghaliex kien jaghtini ftit tama.)

Issa anke dak id-dawl imbexxaq intefa. Prova ohra konkreta ta’ Gvern li jrid jamministra kompletament fid-dlam.

With some people, it is a new style of government.

Imwahhxin mill-international worldwide network of spies.

This relates to secured facilities – any facility that is classified and used for military purposes or for critical infrastructure must prevent use of unauthorised electronic devices if it is to remain classified. If I ma not mistaken, this would apply to anything categorised as SECRET or above (But it depends on how the categories are defined)

As I say, this excuse cannot be used for the ministry as it cannot be categorised as SECRET in any way.