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maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 26 FEBRUARY 2014 3 News Government 'delaying' new code of ethics to coincide with reshuffle MIRIAM DALLI THE publication of the revised ministerial code of ethics will be "delayed" to coincide with the Cabinet reshuffle, MaltaToday has learned. Speculation on an imminent Cabinet reshuffle has been rife, in- tensifying as one media outlet af- ter the other reported that Social Solidarity Minister Marie Louise Coleiro Preca was being consid- ered for the President's role. Questions on the matter sent to the Office of the Prime Min- ister a month ago remained un- answered. MaltaToday sought to clarify at what stage the process is in, whether a copy of the draft revision would be passed on to the Opposition for consultation, and when the new code of ethics ex- pected to come into force. According to informed sources, the "final drafts" of the new min- isterial code of ethics has been passed on to the Cabinet, but Joseph Muscat wants its publica- tion to coincide with the reshuf- fle. While the sources were tight- lipped on any changes to the code of ethics, it is no secret that the Prime Minister wants a "slimmer code". Following the appointment of MPs – doctors by profession – to the Cabinet, discussion raged on allowing the newly-appointed ministers "a handover period". Health Minister Godfrey Farru- gia and Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella had been in the spot- light as well for continuing to see patients for a short while following their appointment. Back in June last year, Muscat had suggested that a new code of ethics for government ministers and MPs would be slimmer and carry less detail than the current code. "I think this code is too volumi- nous and it makes it impossible for people to follow it to the letter. I think it should it be slimmer, with principles that leave no doubt as to what its red lines are," he had said. According to the 1995 code of ethics of members of parliament, government ministers and secre- taries have to relinquish their pri- vate, professional duties once they take up their official duties. Controversy raged when parlia- mentary secretary Franco Mercie- ca was granted a limited waiver to attend to patients who needed his specialist ophthalmology surgical services. At the time, Muscat had argued that it was his right as prime min- ister to take a decision on the code of ethics and how it applies to ministers. "Today the situation is that this code of ethics has a proviso, and it has been used for ministers who have lectured at the University of Malta. With all due respect, I believe it was designed particu- larly for lawyers. And I don't see a problem with this. If it wasn't for this proviso, university students would not have had the privilege of attending lectures by a statist like Guido de Marco," Muscat had said. 'We will not be taking short cuts' – Konrad Mizzi PAGE 1 LNG is also lighter than air at ambient temperatures: "This means that in the unlikely event of a leak, that 'puddle' of flammable vapour will not form." On the other hand, the vapour is flammable: "In order to ignite the gas we first need to vapourise it and then mix it with the right amount of air. But since LNG vapour, primari- ly methane, is lighter than air at am- bient temperatures, any potential flammable gases rise and disperse." LNG stored within the tanks is stored in an inert atmosphere. Davidson said LNG storage, in the way they see it, could either be onshore or floating. In the case of floating storage, there were two op- tions: an offshore floating storage and regasification unit and a dock- side floating storage solution. "The second option is our pre- ferred choice as it has been proven in many areas and will also bring more benefits to the local popula- tion in terms of employment and services," he said. The government's proposed float- ing LNG terminal will see a 215MV gas plant and liquefied natural gas storage anchored permanently to a jetty outside Marsaxlokk Bay. The decision has however been heavily criticised by the National- ist Party, which is claiming that the LNG terminal can be risky to resi- dents. PN MEP candidate Therese Co- modini Cachia insisted that the government should not take any risks. "The floating gas storage facility should be placed outside the bay, which is also what the residents expect. Residents are seriously con- cerned about a terminal so close to the shore," she said. Comodini Cachia accused the La- bour government of prioritising its political goals – that of reducing the energy tariffs – over the health and safety of the residents. Denying that the government over- rode health and safety concerns, La- bour MEP candidate Miriam Dalli said the Occupational Health and Safety Authority (OHSA) was seek- ing expert's advise on the matter. Rebutting claims that the project had been cast in stone since before Labour was elected to government, Dalli said the original plan had been for the gas tanks to be stored on land. "We changed this plan, even be- cause the people were against it," she said. The location of the tanks on land was derided by the PN, claiming the tanks would be 'as big as the Mosta dome'. The two candidates were battling it out on Reporter, with presenter Saviour Balzan pressing for answers on the visual impact of the LNG tanker, the effect on property prices and impact – if any – on residents' health. Balzan went on to ask whether preliminary studies conducted so far provided sufficient guarantees that the floating terminal would be a safe option. Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi however insisted the government would not be taking any shortcuts, reiterating that all national and Eu- ropean directives were being fol- lowed. "A detailed environmental impact study and various public consulta- tions were carried out. Moreover, various reports, as the one by OH- SA are still to be published and we are committed to accept all their recommendations," Mizzi said. Reporter is aired live every Monday at 6.55pm on TVM. The programme is repeated on TVM2 on Monday at 10.15pm. Konrad Mizzi PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD PHOTOGRAPHY BY RAY ATTARD

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