Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1531843
KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt 9 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 26 JANUARY 2025 Expression OF Interest PARTICIPATION FROM GYMS IN THE YOUTH FITNESS SUPPORT SCHEME (YFSS) The Ministry for Education, Sport, Youth, Research, and Innovation is committed to fostering a healthier lifestyle among youths in Malta and Gozo. Recognising the need to promote physical activity and well-being, the Ministry has developed the Youth Fitness Support Scheme (YFSS). This initiative targets youths born between 2005 and 2007, offering them six months of free gym membership. The scheme aligns with national priorities for health promotion and youth development, aiming to create a culture of health-consciousness among young citizens while reducing public health costs in the long term. Apply on: edukazzjoni.gov.mt Closing Date for Applications: 21February 2025 Delia refutes accusation he was unethical when raising PQ concerning a client issue ADRIAN Delia believes it is with- in his right to ask parliamentary questions on issues concerning his clients, insisting this does not con- stitute an ethical breach. The Nationalist MP was report- ed to the Standards Commission- er last week by former minister Clayton Bartolo, who accused him of misusing parliamentary privi- lege. "Parliamentary questions are one of the few tools of scruti- ny available to MPs and I feel it would be discriminatory if I were to hold back any questions simply because the case at hand involves a private client of mine," Delia said when contacted by MaltaToday. The issue concerns a PQ Delia asked last December to Energy Minister Miriam Dalli concern- ing the unloading of containers by Enemalta plc, the State energy company. In her reply, the minister said the issue raised by Delia was at the core of an ongoing appeal in front of the Public Contracts Review Board concerning a tender for the unloading of containers. Dalli also noted that the dispute was between Enemalta and a pri- vate company for which the PN MP is legal counsel. Publicly available documents obtained from the PCRB website show Delia, in his capacity as law- yer, as one of the signatories of the objection letter sent on behalf of his client. In her reply, the minister com- mented that it would have been "fitting and ethical" had Delia de- clared his interest when making the PQ. Now, a month later, Clayton Bartolo asked the Standards Com- missioner to investigate Delia for unethical behaviour, accusing him of "not conducting himself in a manner that reflects the status and dignity of the House of Represent- atives". But the Opposition MP reject- ed the accusation. "Why should some people be disadvantaged be- cause they are my clients? I have no position of power and so I can- not influence any tender, which would be the wrong thing to do." When it was pointed out that there is a difference between a constituent asking an MP to raise an issue of concern, and a paying client, Delia insisted these issues are bound to arise given that MPs are not full time. "I work as a lawyer because so far MPs are part-timers, and I can- not see why I cannot ask PQs on issues that happen to concern my clients," he said. The Code of Ethics does not make reference to parliamentary questions however, it does require MPs to declare their professional interest or otherwise if they have "a direct interest in legislation be- fore the House". MPs are expected to declare this interest "at the first opportunity, before a vote is taken on the Sec- ond Reading of a Bill". Although this provision con- cerns legislation and not PQs, an- other proviso of the Code of Eth- ics requires MPs to "adhere to the spirit and letter of the rules of the House of Representatives". When asked whether he should have declared his interest when making the PQ, Delia said the current rules do not apply to PQs but he would be suggesting the change. "If the Standards Commissioner calls me in, I will propose it myself that MPs be obliged to declare any interest in PQs being asked," he said, adding he had no problem with such a proviso. The existing code of ethics for MPs was introduced in 1995 and proposals to update it and make it more comprehensive have so far gone unheeded. Adrian Delia the judiciary. As things stand today, the AG is appointed by the President on the advice of the Prime Minister. Al- though the AG does have security of tenure because they can only be removed by a two-thirds vote in parliament, the current system ensures the person occupying the chief prosecutorial role is of gov- ernment's own choosing. This raises concerns about the independence of the AG, especial- ly in politically-charged cases of alleged corruption. And the con- cerns are not spurious. Back in 2016, despite a recom- mendation from the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit to seize the computers of audit firm Nex- iaBT in relation to the Panama Pa- pers scandal, the police failed to act because the AG deemed the pro- posed action too intrusive. It was only three years later that a magisterial inquiry kicked off on the initiative of former PN leader Simon Busuttil and MEP David Casa. This inquiry was concluded in December and was passed on to the AG with a recommendation to take criminal action against several individuals and companies, includ- ing Keith Schembri, Konrad Mizzi and Yorgen Fenech. limiting Giovanni Bonello in 2013 talking about judicial reform in the presence of then parliamentary secretary for justice Owen Bonnici and other members of the commission (Photo: Ray Attard)