However, only two care orders were issued between July and December, des-pite 639 referrals. Not all referrals merit a care order. In all, a total of 14 care orders were issued in 2020, down from 39 in 2019 and 50 in 2018. Family Minister Michael Falzon sounded concern over a lack of flexibility and cooperation from the courts when it came to child protection issues. Discussing amendments to the protection law in parliament earlier this month, he flagged the courts’ “lack of sensitivity” and expressed “frustration” about delays in court proceedings and decisions. In comments to Delays are extremely detrimental to a child’s development “All speakers – both from the government and opposition side – expressed concern over how court proceedings related to children’s issues were materialising,” the spokesperson said.