MP says ministers are absent when difficult issues arise

Olafur Adolfsson, chairman of the Independence Party parliamentary group, accused ministers from the People’s Party of being absent from unscripted questions in parliament on Tuesday, saying a “virus of absences” seemed to strike when difficult issues were under discussion. mbl.is reported.

Speaking during a procedural session in parliament, Adolfsson said this was the second time in a short period that no People’s Party minister had attended the unscripted question period.

He called the question period one of parliament’s best agenda items, as it gives MPs the chance to question ministers closely. He also urged the speaker of parliament to notify parliamentary group leaders immediately when ministers are unable to attend, so MPs do not prepare questions for ministers who then fail to appear.