Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/404410
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 26 OCTOBER 2014 6 News JURGEN BALZAN THE 39 Labour MPs are costing the taxpayer more than €1.6 million a year, a sub- stantial increase of €472,439 when compared to the previ- ous Nationalist parliamentary group in 2012. A MaltaToday comparison of salaries paid in 2012 and those that are expected to be paid in 2014, shows that the Labour par- liamentary group is 30% costlier than the previous government MPs. The 35 Nationalist MPs in the last full calendar year of the Gonzi administration earned €1,135,710 between them, which worked out at €32,450 per head. This year, the Labour MPs will each be earning an average €8,778 more than their predecessors on the government benches, apart from dif- ferent perks which go with the job, such as a car, or car and chauffeur, or/and free internet and telephone services. This week's confirmation that La- bour MP Carmelo Abela is earning a €30,000 salary for his role as "govern- ment spokesperson", over and above his €30,906 parliamentary hono- rarium reignited criticism of costly government appointments. This year, MPs will receive a salary of €20,604 for their part-time Par- liamentary work – 50% of the 2014 Scale 1 annual salary – however an unprecedented number of back- benchers have been given political appointments and a hefty wage in- crease. Backbenchers are not normally giv- en political appointments; however, during the turbulent years which be- devilled the previous Nationalist ad- ministration, former Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi had appointed nine parliamentary assistants in a bid to appease the rebels within his party. This move had come at the height of internal strife within the PN which threatened Gonzi's razor-thin one- seat majority and the then Labour opposition had lambasted the ap- pointments which cost the taxpayer €175,119 in 2012 alone. Former MP Franco Debono was among the nine parliamentary as- sistants who accepted a promotion in March 2010, while fellow PN rebel MP Jeffrey Pullicino Orlando was ap- pointed chairman of the Malta Coun- cil for Science and Technology. Debono, who brought the Gonzi administration down in December 2012 and under Labour now serves as chairman of the Law Commission, received €6,600 for his then job as chairman of the House Committee for the Consolidation and Recodifi- cation of Laws, over and above the €25,017 parliamentary assistant sal- ary he earned. On his part, Pullicino Orlando, re- ceived €13,000 a year as chairman of the Malta Council for Science and Technology, a role which he still oc- cupies today. However, not all PN backbenchers were appointed as parliamentary as- sistants and a number of MPs chose to keep their chairmanship of parlia- mentary committees, a role which, according to Parliamentary rules, must be occupied by government MPs. Moreover, Joe Falzon, the govern- ment's representative on the Malta Environment and Planning Author- ity board, had also retained his role at the authority. Lawrence Gonzi had gone to great lengths to defend his decision and ar- gued that by assigning MPs to min- istries the government became more "efficient" and MPs gave a bigger contribution. Moving MPs closer to the people Despite all the criticism of Gonzi's decision to appoint parliamentary as- sistants and increase the ministerial honoraria at the height of the global economic crisis in May 2008, upon becoming Prime Minister Joseph Muscat went one step further and currently all but four of government MPs receive a remuneration over and above their MP's salary. Following last year's general elec- tion, Muscat had described the ap- pointment of parliamentary assist- ants by his predecessor as a "waste of time" and defended the appointment of MPs to government boards as a move to "bring Parliament closer to the people." While the ministerial code of eth- ics stipulates that Cabinet members must stop practising their private professions, many Labour back- benchers have ended in a better fi- nancial position than ministers and parliamentary secretaries because The high cost government JAMES DEBONO THE Mdina local council has issued a tender for a "concession" for the use of the Casino Notabile building at Saqqaja, in Rabat. The council has also presented plans for the restoration of the his- torical building. Paul Spiteri, the council's executive secretary, con- firmed that the call for tenders closed on Wednesday. The council has not specified the use of the casino in the tender issue. "We left all options open… it could be a restaurant, a bank, an office, a cultural centre." The council has also presented plans for the restoration of the build- ing, through its architect, Robert Musumeci. The plans do not foresee any addi- tions to the building except for works meant to stabilise its foundations. Completed in 1887, the Casino Notabile was built by nobles residing in Mdina as a venue for their social gatherings. For this purpose they commissioned British civil engineer Paulson Webster, the civil engineer for the Royal Opera House in Val- letta, to carry out the works. The Casino replaced a washroom built around 100 years earlier. In 2005 the Department for Local Councils turned down a request by the Rabat local council to take over the site with the idea of transforming it into a cultural and art centre – the building falls under the jurisdiction of the Mdina council, to which it subsequently was devolved. In 2005 the site was earmarked by the Department for Local Councils as an "exhibition hall and as a venue for conferences and lectures". In 2012 the government decided that the Casino Notabile should re- main supported by scaffolding for the foreseeable future as other res- toration work in Mdina, like the one on Vilhena Palace and the Despuig and Magazine were deemed to take precedence. Mdina mayor Peter dei Conti Sant Manduca said that studies carried out on the Casino Notabile showed that the main problem was the build- ing's foundations, which suffered from the same problem as the bas- tions beneath Vilhena Palace: a fault in the rock that ran right through to the Casino. The Building Industry Consultative Council (BICC) The selected candidate will be expected to enter a contract for twelve months as a part time Head of Project with the BICC on a European Regional Development Fund Project under Operational Programme I, Investing in Competitiveness for a Better Quality of Life, Informative Online Tool and Helpline for Green Building Technology. Applications for the above vacancy should be sent in a sealed envelope addressed to: The Executive Chairman Building Industry Consultative Council, Building Research Centre, 36, Old Mint Str, Valletta. VLT 1514 Closing date: Friday 7th November 2014 Post of Part Time Head of Project with the BICC ERDF project Informative Online Tool and Helpline for Green Building Technology. Applicants need to have a first degree in architecture or engineering with a minimum of 4 years experience. MINISTRY FOR SOCIAL DIALOGUE, CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES BARRIERA WHARF, VALLETTA, MALTA Operational Programme I – Cohesion Policy 2007 – 2013 Investing in Competitiveness for a Better Quality of Life Project part-financed by the European Union European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Co-financing rate 85% EU Funds; 15% National Funds Investing in your future The Gonzi government was severely criticised for the furtive earnings' increase given to members of the Cabinet Deo Debattista Anthony Agius Decelis Carmelo Abela Mdina council issues tender for Casino Notabile Casino Notabile, still standing with the aid of supports – "all options" open for its use With Labour enjoying an unprecedented majority in Parliament, the taxpayer is footing a hefty bill to keep government MPs happy