Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1527639
4 NEWS 4 maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 9 OCTOBER 2024 MARIANNA CALLEJA mcalleja@mediatoday.com.mt THERE needs to be a balance be- tween serving the Labour Party and governing Malta as a whole, Deputy Prime Minister and Min- ister for Foreign and European Affairs Ian Borg said. "As the Labour Party, we must look out for our people, but as a government, we must protect all Maltese and Gozitans," Borg said on Monday. Speaking on TVM's Xtra, Borg said one cannot ignore any seg- ment of society. Addressing the internal shifts within the Labour Party, which some have interpreted as political fallout after the last MEP election, Borg insisted that these changes are part of a renewal process, with individuals contributing in new capacities. "These are not resignations. This is a renewal, with people working in other areas... at the end of the day, these people [who re- signed] are still in a political party that governs, giving their contri- butions." In contrast, he pointed out how the Nationalist Party has "his- torically handled such situations differently," citing examples from the Gonzi-Dalli era and more re- cent figures like Franco Debono and Jason Azzopardi. According to Borg, the PN's fail- ure to embrace its own members resulted in marginalisation, unlike Labour, "where no one who has left a role has opted to stop con- tributing." The minister underscored the importance of adapting roles and recognising when someone may not be best suited for a particular position. However, he stressed that this should not lead to dis- missing individuals' potential for further contribution. Labour needs to prioritise its supporters, but government must serve all Maltese, Ian Borg says Addressing the internal shifts within the Labour Party, which some have interpreted as political fallout among supporters, Ian Borg insisted 'these changes are part of the party's renewal process' Ian Borg MATTHEW VELLA mvella@mediatoday.com.mt MALTA'S Ombudsman has pro- posed the creation of a select par- liamentary committee to examine reports submitted by his office, to create a formal mechanism for parliamentary oversight, and ensuring the Ombudsman's rec- ommendations are reviewed and acted upon. Judge Emeritus Joseph Zammit McKeon, who presented his Om- budsplan to the Speaker of the House, said the ad hoc committee would help address the current challenge of public bodies failing to implement the Ombudsman's recommendations. "The Commit- tee would promote accountability and ensure necessary reforms to improve public administration by providing a platform within Par- liament for discussion and action," Zammit McKeon said. The Ombudsplan which out- lines priorities of the Office to a special session of the House Busi- ness Committee, includes a key goal to establish the Office of the Ombudsman as Malta's National Human Rights Institution (NHRI). In 2024, the office became an associate member of the Europe- an Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), marking a significant step towards full accreditation as an NHRI. "The plan outlines steps to strengthen the Office's human rights mandate, enabling it to ad- dress broader human rights issues while continuing its core work of overseeing public administration. Establishing the Office as Malta's NHRI would ensure alignment with international human rights standards and enhance its capacity to safeguard citizens' rights," Zam- mit McKeon said. The Office of the Ombudsman provides an alternative and com- plementary route to the courts, of- fering a free and accessible way for individuals to seek redress against public authorities, especially for vulnerable individuals who may lack the resources to pursue legal action Where public administration falls short of standards, the Om- budsman investigates and pro- vides recommendations to im- prove governance practices. Zammit McKeon underscored the relevance of Protocol No. 12 of the European Convention on Hu- man Rights, which enshrines the principle of non-discrimination. "Our investigations frequently in- volve unequal treatment and dis- crimination within public admin- istration… the Ombudsplan 2025 encourages public administration to fully embrace the principles of Protocol No. 12, ensuring that pol- icies and practices do not disad- vantage any group or individual," Judge Zammit McKeon said. While the Ombudsman's recom- mendations have led to tangible improvements in several areas, the report stresses the need for stronger cooperation from public bodies. Some recommendations remain unimplemented, limiting the potential for broader systemic improvements. The Ombudsman said he will continue advocating for the sus- pension of prescriptions in cases where individuals have filed com- plaints with the Office. Currently, legal time limits may continue to run while the Ombudsman inves- tigates, potentially affecting a com- plainant's ability to seek further le- gal redress. The report argues that suspend- ing prescription during the Om- budsman's investigation would safeguard individuals' rights by en- suring their access to justice is not compromised by administrative delays or lengthy investigations. In 2024, the Office handled 372 complaints, reflecting a 6% in- crease from the previous year. This rise is attributed to height- ened public awareness and the Of- fice's proactive outreach strategy, which also led to an 84% increase in public assistance. Ombudsman Joseph Zammit McKeon (left) presents his Ombudsplan to the Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia Zammit McKeon calls for MPs' committee to ensure Ombudsman reports are acted on