Energy Minister Konrad Mizzi was today found to be prima facie in breach of privilege for comments he passed about PN MP George Pullicino.
On Monday, Dr Mizzi said a number of businessmen have spoken to him about Mr Pullicino in a negative way.
Speaker of the House Anglu Farrugia ruled that Dr Mizzi had failed to substantiate his allegations.
Dr Farrugia said that no evidence was presented that the businessmen had spoken to Dr Mizzi about Mr Pullicino.
The breach will now be referred to the Privileges Committee.
During a heated debate on Enemalta on Monday, Dr Mizzi revealed that an audit investigation had found "shameful irregularities" in a €35m contract for the installation of photovoltaic panels on public buildings, awarded to a private company by the former government in its last days.
PN MP George Pullicino
The contract was awarded by George Pullicino's ministry and provided for a feed-in tariff of 23c per electricity unit for 25 years. The feed-in tariff should have been 16c.
Mr Pullicino withdrew comments made in Parliament this week that he is cleaner than all of the government MPs combined after Foreign Affairs Minister George Vella asked for a ruling on Mr Pullicino’s comment.
On exiting Parliament, Mr Pullicino claimed to have been accosted by a One TV journalist. He said the journalist stepped outside of the designated media area and blocked his path.
He asked the Speaker to investigate.
‘I have nothing to hide’ – Pullicino
Speaking during the adjournment, Mr Pullicino said he has nothing to hide over the €35 million contract, and he has written to acting Police Commissioner Ray Zammit asking him to investigate the case.
He accused the government of using diversionary tactics to hide its failure to deliver the gas-fired power-station on time.
He said such tactics by the Labour Party only energise him and spur him on to serve his constituents.
In a document sent to the EU, the government said the BWSC power-station is a “clean energy plant,” Mr Pullicino said.
“This means the BWSC plant is not a “cancer factory” as declared by the Labour Party prior to the March 2013 elections.”
“It is clear that my efforts both in here and out there are getting to them. They are trying to tarnish my reputation. I will continue to do my work.
“They have convinced me if ever there was the need for it, that the Labour Party only works for the interests of the few rather than for the common interest.”
“I never gave my wife €13,000 per month to serve as a public official,” Mr Pullicino said in a jibe about Sai Mizzi, Konrad Mizzi’s wife.
Speaker asked to investigate PQ replies given by Home Affairs Minister
During the same sitting, PN MP Jason Azzopardi asked the Speaker to investigate whether Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia had intentionally misled the House through the replies given in two PQs.
Dr Azzopardi said Dr Mallia gave contradictory replies in two separate PQs on the same subject matter.
Home Affairs Minister Manuel Mallia
Dr Mallia denied the allegation. He said Dr Azzopardi seemed to be referring to replies given about different army brigadiers and not about the same brigadier. Dr Mallia said he was also referring to different army courses.
Dr Mallia said he will review the PQs being referred to by Dr Azzopardi and reply during the next sitting.