Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1141804
6 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 JULY 2019 MATTHEW VELLA MALTA'S commissioner for public standards is cautiously optimistic that his hard-hitting report on government jobs for MPs can bring about important changes. "I sense a growing awareness on both sides of Parliament that things should not go on as they are and as a result I see good prospects for meaningful reform," George Hyzler, a for- mer junior minister in the Ed- die Fenech Adami cabinet of the 1990s, says. His report on plum jobs for MPs, placed in well-paid po- sitions with the State or on lucrative legal consultancies with ministers, is a veritable in- dictment on a system through which various prime minis- ters have attempted to placate backbench MPs. Before Joseph Muscat, Law- rence Gonzi created a system of parliamentary assistants to have MPs shadow ministers and earn a higher honorari- um; controversially he gave ministers their parliamentary honorarium, a 'double salary' that gave Muscat a successful crusade. Then Muscat post- poned any meaningful reform on parliamentary and ministe- rial salaries, but gave his MPs jobs with the State – chairman- ships, positions of trust, and well-paid directorships. "The principle of separation of powers is fundamental in our democratic system… we should be looking towards in- troducing more checks and strengthening existing ones rather than diluting them," said Hyzler, who dubbed this practice as being "fundamen- tally wrong". "An MP whose standard of living becomes dependent on such appointments may find it harder to [take a critical stand]… An MP who publicly goes against his or her govern- ment can expect a backlash. This does not only happen in Malta, but in all democratic systems contested by politi- cal parties that in turn rely on their members' loyalty. But ask yourself the question, is an MP who for reasons of conscience NEWS HEAT PUMP WATER HEATERS Ideal for those who don't have roof access, they heat water for household use. There's a 50% subsidy for a complete unit to a maximum of €700. 28 people have benefited from this scheme. PV SOLAR PANELS Generating electricity for domestic use, there's a subsidy of 50% of the cost of the panels, inverter and support frame to a maximum cost of €2,300. 484 families have benefited from this scheme. WATER WELLS MAINTENANCE A subsidy of 50% is available for the fixing of water wells, with the cost to cover cleaning, waterproofing, pump, pipes, tanks as well as architect services to a maximum cost of €100. 180 people have benefited from this scheme. SOLAR WATER HEATERS These heat water for domestic use, with a subsidy available for a whole unit, to a maximum cost of €700. 483 families have benefited from this scheme. DOUBLE GLAZING AND ROOF INSULATION These help keep a constant temperature indoors. 680 people have benefited from this scheme. For more information visit rews.org.mt or call on 2295 5000 or send an email on enquiry@rews.org.mt energy is precious... save it "WASTE LESS, SAVE MORE" In Malta, MPs are required to be in the House of Representatives every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to qualify for the basic honorarium of some €22,752 (50% of Scale 1 government salaries). For those in private employment it could mean coming from an 'eight to five' job or business, apart from parliamentary group meetings at party HQ, special party events, Sunday sermons down at the party clubs, morning coffees and fund-raisers, not to mention constituency time and a regular stream of wedding invitations (most probably all requiring a handsome cash gift) and funeral attendances. The salary gets better if you are a chairman of a parliamentary committee (75% of Scale 1), but if you are a minister on some €54,000-odd a year, you cannot attend to your private profession, except for raking passive earnings from your firm's profits. The 'part-time' allure of Malta's House of Representatives indeed serves as extra pocket money for some MPs. Yet if you are in a successful law practice, medical profession, or have a small business empire, the political class can offer you an 'easy' €22,000 annual income for your three-day sojourn in the House of Representatives. Whether or not your political duty will come before your business interests, or vice-versa, will be something that voters will have to watch out for. The Maltese parliament also provides transitional allowances for former ministers after the lapse of 12 months from the termination of their executive position, and after deducting any income from their jobs. But Malta has no fixed 'revolving doors' policies to limit the cases where lawmakers switch jobs and join the private sector, armed with the influence they gained as Cabinet members. The incomes listed here (only non-ministerial MPs are listed) include all the net incomes declared in their 2018 tax returns as presented to MaltaToday by the House of Representatives under the Tax Management Act. Incomes would be for the year 2017. Net incomes implies that the original tax return reveals an MPs' gross income and the deducted expenses, especially for those who run businesses or professional practices. The spousal income is listed 'as is' in tax returns (note: MPs Kristy Debono and Jean Pierre Debono declare each other's net income in their spouses' declaration). A more detailed breakdown will be made available online on www.maltatoday.com.mt Backbench bonanza Bringing checks and balances back inside the House