Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/430850
maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2014 News €354,000 spent on logistics to celebrate 10 years in the European Union €110,309 spent on lighting during activities held to celebrate 50 years of Independence MIRIAM DALLI EXPENSES pertaining to activities organised to celebrate Malta's 10th an- niversary of EU membership reached at least €354,000 while lighting costs pertaining to activities held on 20 Sep- tember to mark Malta's 50 years of In- dependence reached €110,309. The information was tabled in parlia- ment by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat in reply to a question tabled by PN MP Mario de Marco. De Marco requested information in relation to the lighting costs. The in- formation tabled with regard to Malta's 10th EU anniversary however included "other necessary elements for the ac- tivities to be held". No breakdown of these elements was given. The payments were made to Jugs@Malta Ltd and National Events Ltd. Four activities were held: 5 April (€94,400), 26 April (€41,300), 30 April (€47,200) and 1 May (€171,100). In the case of the activities held to celebrate 50 years of Independence, the government spent €110,309 in lighting. The works were carried out by Honey Comb Ltd and Nexos Manufacturing Ltd. Muscat said that all regulations gov- erning financing were followed. Ombudsman's report on MPs' salaries still being analysed by the government Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela says report 'to be discussed by both sides in the coming weeks' A report penned by the Ombuds- man analysing the salaries of Mem- bers of Parliament was presented to the government six months ago and is still being analysed by the government. In reply to a request raised by PN MP Jason Azzopardi – asking for the report to be tabled in par- liament – Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said the government was still analysing the report and any recommendations, if necessary, would come into force in the com- ing legislature. Muscat said that the Opposition had refused to take part in the consultations held on the report, "arguing that the Auditor General, the Ombudsman and the Chief Electoral Commissioner did not have the mandate to discuss the issue". "It was only later that the Oppo- sition had a change of heart," Mus- cat said. The Prime Minister went on to add that any recommendations put forward by the Ombudsman would come into force in the next legisla- ture. "These would come into force if the government feels the need," he said. In a supplementary question raised by PN MP Francis Zammit Dimech, newly-appointed Home Affairs Minister Carmelo Abela said he could not give a timeframe on when the report would be pub- lished. "However, a discussion on the report between both sides of the House will take place in the com- ing weeks," he said. Abela, who will retain his role as government whip until the Christ- mas recess, sat in his usual seat on the backbench. Ministers and par- liamentary secretaries – if they all fit – usually sit on the front bench. A little bit of humorous teasing ensued after a number of Nation- alist MPs made it a point to refer to him as "minister".