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3 maltatoday, WEDNESDAY, 16 MARCH 2016 News PN will not rest 'until Mizzi and Schembri are sacked' – Fenech Adami MIRIAM DALLI THE Nationalist Party will keep up the pressure until both Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi and the PM's chief of staff, Keith Schembri are dismissed, PN deputy leader Beppe Fenech Adami has stated. Addressing a news conference outside the OPM at the Auberge de Castille, Fenech Adami also claimed that "corruption is cook- ing at Castille" whilst the "power- less prime minister is being held hostage" by Mizzi and Schembri. "What is stopping the Prime Minister from dismissing the two? Schembri is facing serious allega- tions of corruption while Mizzi, a minister, opened a company in a secretive jurisdiction. "The allegations in their regard are serious and should be investi- gated," he reiterated. "But Muscat is incapable of act- ing and dismissing two people caught in this web of corruption. Why can't he sack them?" Fenech Adami went on to draw comparisons with Adrian Hill- man's resignation from his high- ranking posts at The Times' Allied Group. Hillman has resigned as managing director but is still em- ployed with Allied Newspapers. Hillman, who declared that his resignation was in the best inter- est of the company and "without any admission of liability", has de- nied receiving any kickbacks from Schembri. The allegations were denied, but Fenech Adami insist- ed that the accusations "remain shocking". "Naturally there are allegations but it can't be that a chief of staff keeps facing these allegations. What is shocking people is the powerless prime minister." He went on to add that Muscat was "going out of his way to defend the indefensible". Asked whether the PN was aware of any proof of corruption in pub- lic contracts signed – the Opposi- tion has called for a probe – the deputy leader insisted there was "no logic or valid reason" to jus- tify the opening of a company in Panama. "Holding property abroad or having worked abroad do not jus- tify this," he said. PN deputy leader claims 'corruption brewing at Castille' before the eyes of 'a powerless Prime Minister' Government reverses planning exemption for health projects MARTINA BORG HEALTH parliamentary sec- retary Chris Fearne said that the decision to reverse a legal notice that exempted health projects from the need of seek- ing planning permission and Environment Impact Assess- ment regulations were partial- ly a response to criticism and concerns voiced by civil society over the environmental impact of 'unchecked' developments and extensions of hospital sites. Last year, on the eve of the feast of Sta Marija, the govern- ment changed the law to exempt any health related development near Mater Dei, St Luke's and Gozo General hospitals from the need of planning permits. But Fearne said the govern- ment "believes that the health and care of our patients is para- mount, but it is also important to respect the environment around these facilities," adding that the government was very sensitive to environmental con- cerns and the country's obliga- tions to respect EU regulations in this regard. Fearne added that the decision also followed the results of an ARUP report into the quality of concrete and structures used throughout the hospital. "The report, which was ex- tended to the rest of the hos- pital after a number of issues were found in the Accident and Emergency department, showed that substantial chang- es will be necessary in order for us to have the extensions we had planned," he said adding that the report would be made public in the near future. Fearne further highlighted the necessity of enlarging the hospital to better suit the needs of the population. "Among the planned changes, we feel we need to have an ex- tended maternity and pediatric section," Fearne said. He explained that these ex- tensive changes had led the gov- ernment to believe that a num- ber of impact assessments were necessary before going ahead with the changes. In a statement issued ear- lier on, the government said that the two legal notices pub- lished about developments on the boundaries of hospitals would amend those published in 2015. The previous legal no- tices had effectively given the government power to carry out extension projects of hos- pitals without having to apply for Planning Authority permits and Environment Impact As- sessments. However, the amendments will revert back to original regulations, signif ying that the hospital will have to apply for a full development permit as well as undergo environmental im- pact assessments before going ahead with any plans to extend the facility. The statement added that the government would be announc- ing development projects that would increase bed space and parking spaces among other new facilities, to Mater Dei hos- pital to address shortcomings in the structures when the facility had first been constructed. EASTER WEEKEND SAY CHEESE CHEESY WEEKEND SNACKS CHOCOLATE INDULGENCE EASTER'S HERO INGREDIENT www.gourmettoday.recipes DINING OUT OUR FAVOURITE RESTOS PRECA SISTERS' FAMILY LUNCH PIPPA MATTEI'S LOCAL KUSKSU RABBIT IN CHOCOLATE SAUCE ISSUE 38 • MARCH 2016 WIN a meal for two at Caviar and bull RECIPES OUT NEXT SUNDAY with MaltaToday Health related development in the vicinity of hospitals had been exempted from applying for planning permits